Ufomba Kamalu

Ufomba Kamalu (born November 2, 1992)[1] is an American football defensive end for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Miami and signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He won a Super Bowl ring with the 2018 New England Patriots.[1]

Ufomba Kamalu
BC Lions
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1992-11-02) November 2, 1992
Fayetteville, Georgia
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school:Fayetteville (GA) Starr's Mill
College:Miami (FL)
Undrafted:2016
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
CFL status:American
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2018
Total tackles:12
Sacks:3.0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life

After being born in Georgia, Kamalu spent the first 13 years of his life in Aba, Nigeria with his siblings, while his parents stayed back home. He returned to the United States for high school, but many concepts in America were completely foreign to him. It has been reported that by his father's request he began playing football his freshman year of high school.[2]

College career

Kamalu went to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas for junior college. He then attended college at University of Miami in Florida, playing football, where he totaled 48 tackles (11.5 for a loss of yardage), 8.0 sacks, one forced fumble and fumble recovery, and an interception which he returned for 46 yards over his 3-year collegiate career.[3][4] Kamalu was voted Miami's defensive player of the year during his senior year in 2015[5] After 4 years of college with Butler CC and Miami combined, he declared for the 2016 NFL draft where he went undrafted.

Professional career

Houston Texans

Kamalu signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2016.[6] He was waived by the Texans on September 3, 2016 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[7][8] He was promoted to the active roster on November 26, 2016.[9] He made his professional debut in Week 13 in a start against the Green Bay Packers, where he recorded his first career tackle in a 21-13 loss.[10] Kamalu recorded his first career sack on Matt Cassel in a Week 17 loss to the Tennessee Titans.[11]

On September 1, 2018, Kamalu was waived by the Texans.[12]

Arizona Cardinals

On September 25, 2018, Kamalu was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad.[13] He was released on October 30, 2018.[14]

New England Patriots

On November 5, 2018, Kamalu was signed to the New England Patriots' practice squad.[15] He was promoted to the active roster on December 21, 2018.[16] Kamalu appeared in 2 games for the Patriots recording 1 tackle. With Kamalu the Patriots reached Super Bowl LIII and defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.[17]

On August 31, 2019, Kamalu was released during final roster cuts.[18] He was signed onto the Patriots practice squad a day later.[19]

Baltimore Ravens

On October 24, 2019, Kamalu was signed by the Baltimore Ravens off the Patriots' practice squad.[20] He was waived on November 12 and re-signed to the practice squad.[21] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Ravens on January 13, 2020.[22] He was released by the Ravens on April 8, 2020.[23] The next day Kamalu was arrested on a warrant for domestic violence.[24] He was suspended by the NFL for the remainder of the 2020 NFL regular season and postseason on December 11, 2020.[25]

BC Lions

Kamalu signed with the BC Lions of the CFL on December 30, 2020.[26]

References
  1. "Ufomba Kamalu". NFL.com.
  2. "Football helped Texans' Ufomba Kamalu acclimate to America as a teenager". ESPN.com. June 3, 2016.
  3. "Ufomba Kamalu College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  4. "Ufomba Kamalu - Football". University of Miami Athletics.
  5. Porter, Matt. "Brad Kaaya, Joe Yearby, Ufomba Kamalu among Hurricanes team award winners". The Palm Beach Post.
  6. "Texans sign 3 draft picks, 15 undrafted free agents". HoustonTexans.com. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  7. "TRANSACTIONS: Texans down to 53-man roster". HoustonTexans.com. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  8. "TRANSACTIONS: Texans sign 8 to practice squad". HoustonTexans.com. September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  9. "Texans sign Ufomba Kamalu". HoustonTexans.com. November 26, 2016. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  10. Wilson, Aaron (November 27, 2016). "Texans rookie Ufomba Kamalu makes NFL debut". Chron.com.
  11. "Texans vs. Titans - Box Score - January 1, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  12. "TRANSACTIONS: Texans cut roster to 53". HoustonTexans.com. September 1, 2018.
  13. "Cardinals sign DE Ufomba Kamalu to practice squad, release Alec James". ArizonaSports.com. September 25, 2018.
  14. Urban, Darren (October 30, 2018). "Cardinals Add TE John Phillips, OL Colby Gossett". AZCardinals.com.
  15. "Patriots Sign LB Ufomba Kamalu to the Practice Squad". Patriots.com. November 5, 2018.
  16. "Patriots Sign DL Ufomba Kamalu to the 53-Man Roster; Sign OL Tony Adams to the Practice Squad". Patriots.com. December 21, 2018.
  17. "Ufomba Kamalu's Amazing Path To Patriots Started South Of Super Bowl LIII | New England Patriots | NESN.com".
  18. Yang, Nicole. "Patriots rumor roundup: Here's who won't make New England's 53-man roster". Boston.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  19. Kyed, Doug. "Patriots Practice Squad Tracker: Stephen Anderson, Terez Hall Retained". NESN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  20. Mink, Ryan (October 25, 2019). "Ravens Sign Former Patriots Defensive Lineman". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  21. Hensley, Jamison (November 12, 2019). "Ravens add veteran DT Domata Peko in series of moves". ESPN.com.
  22. Brown, Clifton (January 13, 2020). "Ravens Sign Nine Players to Reserve/Future Contracts". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  23. Gantt, Darin (April 9, 2020). "Ravens release Ufomba Kamalu". NBCSports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  24. Waldman, Tyler (April 10, 2020). "Former Raven Kamalu Charged With Domestic Assault". WBAL (AM). Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  25. @AlbertBreer (December 11, 2020). "Today's visit/tryout list ... Ravens bringing ex-Niners G Alex Boone on" (Tweet). Retrieved January 26, 2021 – via Twitter.
  26. Baker, Matt (December 30, 2020). "Lions Add Americans Ferguson, Kamalu and Levine Jr. to Roster". BCLions.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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