Players

Ogemdi Nwagbuo (oh-GEM-dee new-WAH-boe) rose from obscurity to become a key member of the Chargers’ defensive line. A practice squad member in 2008 who was likely destined for the same role in ’09, Nwagbuo made the Chargers’ opening day roster with a solid training camp and a rash of injuries along the defensive line. Over the last two seasons, Nwagbuo has proven that he belongs in the NFL. He’ll look to expand his role even further in 2011.

Nwagbuo’s background is unique. His parents were born in Lagos, Nigeria, and even though “O.G.,” as he is referred to by teammates, was born in San Diego, he was given a Nigerian name, which translated to English means “my time will come.”

Nwagbuo got a late start playing football. As a junior at Mt. Miguel High School in the San Diego suburb of Spring Valley, he played just three snaps. Later, the CIF, the governing body of high school sports in California, ruled Nwagbuo ineligible for his senior season because his family had moved and he’d violated the CIF’s transfer rules. After graduating, Nwagbuo enrolled at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, where he got his first real exposure to the game. Despite limited football experience, Nwagbuo had a successful two-year stint at Southwestern, earning secondteam all-conference honors as a sophomore. It led to a scholarship offer from Michigan State, where he played football and earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies. Nwagbuo was then signed as a free agent by the New York Giants. He went through training camp with the Giants in ’08 but got cut before the season started. Out of football, Nwagbuo took a job in customer service for Enterprise Rent-a-Car in San Diego. The Chargers
would later sign Nwagbuo to their practice squad in Dec. 2008 and he took a small break from Enterprise, but returned to work for them after the season. In fact, he continued to work at Enterprise through the Chargers’ 2009 offseason conditioning program, leaving the job only a couple weeks before training camp began in late July.

Nwagbuo took additional steps to prepare for his post-football career this offseason by participating in a couple of internships. He completed one in the player development department at the NFL headquarters in New York City, and another with J Public Relations, an all-female PR firm in San Diego.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with New York Giants, May 1, 2008...waived Aug. 30...signed to Chargers’ practice squad, Dec. 8...re-signed, Jan. 16, 2009.

2010: Season-high five tackles Dec. 5 vs. Oakland...shared sack in 31-0 win over Kansas City Dec. 12.

2009: Game Ball for sack in 4Q of first-career game Sept. 14 MNF at OAK...Game Ball Sept. 20 vs. MIA...third-and-goal TFL vs. Ronnie Brown one of season-high two TFLs on day... tipped pass led to Quentin Jammer INT and TD by offense Nov. 29 vs. KC...“Reserve Injured” (ankle) Dec. 9.

2008: Five weeks, including playoffs, on practice squad.

COLLEGE: Played 2006-07 at Michigan State...second-team All-Foothill Conference at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif. as soph in 2005...degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science–human resources.

PERSONAL: Born in San Diego...prepped at Mt. Miguel HS in Spring Valley.