Akwasi Owusu-Ansah

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
Position: Safety
Personal information
Date of birth: April 10, 1988
Place of birth: Gainesville, Florida
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school: Columbus (OH) Whetstone
College: Indiana (Pa.)
NFL draft: 2010 / Round: 4 / Pick: 126
Career history
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 15
Tackles: 22
Interceptions: 0
Stats at NFL.com
Stats at pro-football-reference.com

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (/əˈkwɑːsi ɵˈwuːsuː ˈɑːnsɑː/ ə-KWAH-see o-WOO-soo AHN-sah;[1] born April 10, 1988). Owusu-Ansah played college football at Division II Indiana (Pa.), and was considered one of the top cornerback and top small school prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft. Ultimately, he was selected in the fourth round, 126th overall by the Dallas Cowboys. He was the 14th cornerback selected, and the second player from Division II behind future Raiders teammate Jared Veldheer. Owusu-Ansah has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and Detroit Lions.

High school

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah attended Whetstone High School in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Whetstone in 2006. Owusu-Ansah is Whetstone's career leading rusher for yards and touchdowns and led the Braves to their first back-to-back winning seasons in over 10 years. Owusu-Ansah received All-Ohio Honorable Mention honors his senior year.[2]

College career

Owusu-Ansah played college football for the IUP Crimson Hawks of NCAA Division II. He became a starter as a junior, when he registered eight interceptions, including seven in the last four games, and three against Gannon University.[3] Prior to his senior season in 2009 he was ranked as the ninth-best cornerback in the nation, and the only non-Division I player in the top 18. During his senior season he returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns and ranked in the top 15 nationally for kick and punt return average yards. He set school records for punt return yards and average and kickoff return yards.[3]

He was selected for the 2010 East-West Shrine Game, but could not participate due to a shoulder injury suffered during his senior season. He later underwent surgery performed by James Bradley, team doctor of the Pittsburgh Steelers, in March 2010. Just before the surgery, Owusu-Ansah participated in the Pro Day workout at Ohio State University, where he recorded the fastest 40 yard dash time.[4] Following his senior season, he was selected first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, second-team by the Associated Press and first-team All-PSAC for defense and special teams.[5]

Upon being drafted, he was the seventh player selected from IUP, and the third-highest selection for the school after Jim Haslett in 1979 and Leander Jordan in 2000.[6]

He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Gamma Mu chapter.[7] He is frequently referred to as "Kwasi".

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

Although he was considered to be inexperienced coming from a small school background and was also recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered as a senior, Owusu-Ansah was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, because of his athletic measurables.[8] In the process, the team passed on other defensive backs like Kam Chancellor, Kendrick Lewis, Nolan Carroll and Reshad Jones. On July 19, 2010, he agreed to a four-year contract worth $2.24 million with the Cowboys.[9]

As a rookie he was moved between the safety and cornerback position, earning the job as the team's primary kickoff returner. He was placed on the injured reserve list on November 10, 2010, with an ankle injury, after playing in 7 games.

On September 3, 2011, Owusu-Ansah was released.[10] He cleared waivers and signed to the practice squad on September 4. During the 2011 NFL season, the Cowboys started playing him at wide receiver in addition to safety. He was waived from the team on November 30.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Owusu-Ansah to their practice squad on December 4, 2011. He was promoted to the active roster on December 6, after the Jaguars released tight end Fendi Onobun. He was released on May 7, 2012.[11]

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

The Dallas Cowboys claimed Owusu-Ansah off waivers on May 8, 2012.[12] He was released during the final roster cuts on August 31.

Oakland Raiders

He was signed to the Oakland Raiders practice squad on September 19, 2012.[13] He was re-signed and released from the practice two additional times, until being waived on May 13, 2013.

New Orleans Saints

Owusu-Ansah signed with the New Orleans Saints on July 23, 2013.[14] He was cut on August 27.

Detroit Lions

On December 2, 2013, he was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad and stayed there until being promoted to the active roster on December 27. He was released on May 12, 2014.

References

External links