16. KENE NWANGWU | Iowa State 6001 | 210 lbs. | rSR. Frisco, Texas (Heritage) 2/9/1998 (age 23.22) #3
BACKGROUND: Kene (kuh-NAY) Nwangwu (new-WAHN-goo) was a standout football and track star at Frisco’s Heritage High School in north Texas. A two-year starter at running back, he recorded 1,364 rushing yards (8.6 yards per carry) and 15 touchdowns as a junior, adding 16 catches for 91 yards. Nwangwu had his best season as a senior with 1,439 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 15 catches for 150 yards to earn All-District honors for the second straight year. In track, he won the 2016 Class 5A state title in the high jump (6’10”) and finished third in the long jump (23’9.75”). Nwangwu set personal bests in the 100 meters (10.54) and 200 meters (21.94). A three-star recruit out of high school, Nwangwu was the No. 66-ranked running back in the 2016 class and the No. 127 recruit in the state of Texas. He considered offers from Iowa and Northwestern before signing with Iowa State. Nwangwu graduated with his degree in mechanical engineering with a 3.76 GPA. He received invitations to the 2021 East-West Shrine Bowl and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, but both events were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Nwangwu attended the 2021 College Gridiron Showcase. YEAR (GP/GS) CAR YDS AVG TD REC YDS AVG TD NOTES 2016: (12/0) 27 133 4.9 0 1 16 16.0 0 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (KR); KR TD 2017: Medical redshirt Suffered a torn right Achilles 2018: (13/1) 39 157 4.0 0 2 11 5.5 0 Second Team All-Big 12 (KR) 2019: (13/1) 16 115 7.2 0 1 8 8.0 0 2020: (12/1) 61 339 5.6 4 3 22 7.3 0 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (KR) Total: (50/3) 143 744 5.2 4 7 57 8.1 0 HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE N/A (Not invited) PRO DAY 6001 210 30 1/2 9 1/4 74 5/8 4.31 2.56 1.45 38 10’5” 4.25 6.83 22
STRENGTHS: Explosive athlete…above-average speed with impressive track background…quick gather-and-cut skills and can mash the turbo button at any moment…has quick eyes to find a crease…able to press backside before shifting gears to burst frontside…highly productive kick returner, averaging 26.8 yards per return in college with one touchdown (92/2,470/1)…the coaching staff doesn’t hide its respect for him (head coach Matt Campbell: “He’s unselfish, wants what’s best [28] for the team and is willing to stand up for what’s right, both on and off the field”)…fumbled only once on 242 total touches…4.0 GPA student in high school and 3.76 GPA in college.
WEAKNESSES: Small body of work on offense with only three games in his career with double-digit carries (10, 11, 11)…eager to show off his speed, but needs to improve his patience and allow blocks to develop…plays in overdrive and his game lacks tempo…has a hint of stiffness in his hips, which will hinder his ability to sink or redirect…unproven pass catcher — saw 10 catchable targets in college, which resulted in seven catches and three drops…suffered a torn right Achilles, which required surgery (February 2017) and affected him for over a calendar year; also missed time with a shoulder injury (September 2019).
SUMMARY: A part-time player at Iowa State, Nwangwu was the primary kick returner and backup running back in offensive coordinator Tom Manning’s scheme. He spent his Cyclones career in the shadows of David Montgomery and Breece Hall and battled an Achilles injury, but he made the most of his touches as a senior, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with four touchdowns. Nwangwu must improve his discipline as a running back, but he displays breakaway speed to start fast and finish faster with the ball in his hands. He holds the school record with a 26.85 kickoff return average (on 92 returns) and ranks No. 3 all-time in Big 12 history with 2,470 kick-return yards. Overall, Nwangwu must develop his patience, block recognition and receiving skills to warrant a spot on offense, but his home run speed and return skills could be his ticket to sticking on an NFL roster.
GRADE: 6th-7th Round
