Ogemdi Nwagbuo
Ogemdi Nwagbuo
  • Title:
    Football
  • Year Inducted:
    2016
  • Transfer/Graduation Date:
    2005

Bio

Ogemdi Nwagbuo (“OG”) graduated from Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley, California, where he played football for four years.

He then enrolled at Southwestern College and continued his football career from 2003 to 2005 playing for Head Coach Mike Pomp and Defensive Coordinator Dioncio Monarrez. He recorded 55 tackles including 10 sacks as a sophomore, earning him a spot on the 2nd Team All-Foothill Conference. OG received his Associate’s Degree in Transfer Studies in 2005 and moved on to play football for Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

As a junior, he appeared in all 12 games in 2006, including starts in the first six games at defensive tackle and totaled 23 tackles (10 solos, 13 assists). In 2007, as a senior, he started 12 games at nose tackle and for his career at MSU, he had 31 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses and one sack. As a result, OG was selected Most Improved Player on the Spartan team. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science: Human Resource Management in 2008.

Entering the NFL as an Undrafted Free Agent with the New York Giants in 2008, OG played for the San Diego Chargers from 2008 to 2011, the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2012, the Detroit Lions from 2012 to 2013, and ended his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He started six of 36 career games and amassed 44 career tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Always focused on his studies, OG completed the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program at Harvard Business School in 2012, and is currently enrolled in the Master of Business Administration in Marketing Program at the Indiana University- Kelley School of Business, Bloomington, Indiana.

OG has always made an effort to give back to community groups and individuals who have supported him on his drive to become a professional athlete. In addition, he has worked with and encouraged young athletes who want to emulate his success. He has worked or intended at these well-known businesses throughout his career: NFL Headquarters, J Public Relations & Marketing, Qualcomm Industries, San Diego State University, and he currently is the Basketball Coordinator for Upper Deck Sports. He is a popular speaker at sports clinics, fundraisers, charity events and school functions.

OG would like to publicly thank Coach Monarrez for the countless hours of instruction and advice that he freely gave him during his formative years here at Southwestern College in 2003.

OG’s personal cheering sections includes his mother, Ify Vicky Bolton Okenwa, brother and sister, Michael, Darlene, Gerald, girlfriend Renee Candler and son, Darius.

Southwestern College School of Wellness, Exercise Science and Athletics is honored to welcome Ogemdi Nwagbuo for his outstanding athletic and academic achievements into its Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2016.