Chidobe Awuzie

Chidobe Awuzie's Biography

Chidobe Richard Awuzie, born on May 24, 1995, is an American football player who is currently a cornerback for the Tennessee Titans, a team from the National Football League (NFL). His foray into the esteemed NFL started when the Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the 2017’s second round.

Raised by his Nigerian immigrant parents, Awuzie was dotted on the map of American football right from his high school days at Oak Grove High School in San Jose, California. His incredible skills in cornerback and wide receiver positions garnered attention from sports analysts at Rivals.com and ESPN.com, both rating him as a three-star recruit.

During his final years at high school, Awuzie made a name for himself by scoring three touchdowns from 23 carries, making 13 receptions for 211 yards, and four touchdowns. His quick adaptability, seen in his change of playing position to free safety, resulted in 58 tackles, five blocked kicks, and one fumble recovery. Due to his extraordinary performance, Awuzie received All-League honors.

His senior year was no different. As he tallied 138 carries for a whopping 1,285 yards, coupled with a 9.3-yard average, he led the league with 14 touchdowns. Playing as a cornerback on defense, he wracked up 69 significant tackles, managing four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. As his accolades stacked up, the doors to the University of Colorado Boulder opened.

Awuzie’s college football days mainly centered around establishing his name as a serious corner back. He instantly gained playing time, participating in 12 games with seven starts, six of them being at the nickel position, and one at left cornerback. Slowly but steadily, his contributions to the team started making a mark. He recorded 643 snaps on defense, including 59 significant tackles and other notable contributions. He started his sophomore year with a bang, leading the team with 64 tackles, eight passes defended, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery, before suffering a lacerated kidney, which tempered his high-performance streak.

Nevertheless, Awuzie made a strong comeback in his junior year, making appearances in 13 games with 12 starts, splitting his time between cornerback and the nickel position. His performance paved his path to the All-Pac-12 football team’s second team, earning him a spot in the Thorpe Award watch-list for the best defensive back in the nation in his senior year.

Awuzie’s professional career kicked off post-college when he received an invitation to the NFL Combine. After several private workouts with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, and Tennessee Titans, he successfully made it into the NFL.

The Dallas Cowboys picked Awuzie in the second round (60th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft making him the 10th cornerback to be drafted that year. Amidst the initial challenges, including an ankle injury and a hamstring pull, Awuzie started his NFL career as the fourth cornerback. He made his professional debut in the Cowboys’ season-opener against the New York Giants, contributing four combined tackles during a 19–3 victory. However, what impressed his teammates and fans was not just his powerful game but his never-dying spirit even during his injuries.

Being inactive due to injuries did little to dampen Awuzie’s spirit or his performance. In no time, he rebounded, making his official career interception during a match against the Eagles. With 25 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception, and one forced fumble, Awuzie finished his rookie season on a high note.

Maintaining his upward trajectory, Awuzie retained his start as a cornerback in 2018, while also performing phenomenally for other teams like the Cincinnati Bengals later. No matter the team, his impressive performances comprising interceptions, tackled, and defended passes were consistent. In 2021, Awuzie signed a three-year contract with the Bengals, reinforcing the starting cornerback position, and leading them to multiple victories.

Awuzie’s life is the epitome of a winning race, with his strong faith in Christianity as the driving force. A testament to God’s grace and mercy, he often expresses how his faith is everything he had and has. When he’s off the field, Awuzie keeps his stratagems alive, engaging in intense games of chess. He often draws parallels between his game on the field and on the chessboard.

Overall, Chidobe Awuzie’s life has been nothing short of a thrilling journey, filled with challenges and victories. From a promising high school football player to an NFL star, his life mirrors his football journey, which is marked by hard hits, sudden opportunities, and triumphant victories. His determination, strategic thinking, and resilience not just make him a pro player but also an inspiration for aspiring footballers worldwide.