Benjamin Ebenezer Obomanu[1] (born October 30, 1983) is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL draft.[2] Obomanu played college football for the Auburn Tigers.[3]

Ben Obomanu
refer to caption
Obomanu with the Seattle Seahawks in 2010
No. 15, 87
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1983-10-30) October 30, 1983 (age 41)
Selma, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Selma (AL)
College:Auburn
NFL draft:2006 / round: 7 / pick: 249
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:88
Receiving yards:1,217
Receiving touchdowns:7
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Obomanu attended Selma High School in Selma, Alabama, and was a letterman and a starter in football and basketball. He graduated from Selma High School as a valedictorian.[4]

College career

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Obomanu played football for Auburn from 2002 to 2005. He had a career game against Ole MIss in 2003 but dropped the game winning touchdown pass in the end zone in a loss.

Obomanu is a member of the Sigma Delta chapter (Auburn University) of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He attended the University of Alabama School of Law beginning in Fall 2015.

College statistics

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Receiving
Year Team Rec Yards Y/R TD Long
2002 Auburn Tigers 17 224 13.2 3 45
2003 Auburn Tigers 22 373 17.0 3 68
2004 Auburn Tigers 25 359 14.4 7 43
2005 Auburn Tigers 33 357 10.8 5 21
Total 97 1313 13.5 18 68

Professional career

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Seattle Seahawks

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After being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round (249th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft,[5] Obomanu spent the entire 2006 season on the team's practice squad.

Obomanu made the Seahawks' active roster out of training camp in 2007. His first NFL touchdown came in on October 14 in a Sunday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints. Obomanu caught a 17-yard Matt Hasselbeck pass late in the second quarter.

Obomanu broke his collarbone in a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders on the 29th of August 2008 and he was placed on Injured Reserve the following day.

Following Week 11 of the 2010 NFL Season, Obomanu was promoted to the #2 receiver, starting alongside Mike Williams.

In a home game against the Carolina Panthers in 2010, Obomanu was injured as a result of a hit by Panthers safety Charles Godfrey.

Obomanu finished the 2010 season with 30 receptions for 494 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a 16.5 yard per catch average. Shortly after the Seahawks' were eliminated from the playoffs against the Bears, Obomanu signed a new 3-year contract with the Seahawks running through 2013.

On March 15, 2013, the Seahawks released Obomanu.

New York Jets

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Obomanu in 2006

Obomanu was signed by the New York Jets on May 30, 2013.[6] He was released on August 31, 2013.[7] He was re-signed on September 10, 2013.[8] He was released on October 2, 2013.[9]

Career statistics

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Season Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
2012 Seattle Seahawks 8 0 4 58 14.5 36 0 1 11 11.0 11 0 - -
2011 Seattle Seahawks 16 6 37 436 11.8 55 2 1 13 13.0 13 0 - -
2010 Seattle Seahawks 15 6 30 494 16.5 87 4 2 17 8.5 13 0 - -
2009 Seattle Seahawks 14 0 4 41 10.3 12 0 - - - - - 1 1
2007 Seattle Seahawks 13 0 12 180 15.0 30 1 - - - - - - -
2006 Seattle Seahawks - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total 57 12 83 1,151 13.9 87 7 3 30 10.0 13 0 1 1

Law school

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In the Fall of 2015, Obomanu enrolled in law school at The University of Alabama School of Law. During his third-year, Obomanu served as the President of the Black Law Students Association and as the Student Ombudsperson for the Honor Council.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Obomanu on ESPN". espn.com. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ "2006 NFL Draft Tracker". NFL.com. 2006. Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
  3. ^ "2005 Tigers (pp. 35-71)" (PDF). 2005 Auburn Football Media Guide. Auburn University. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
  4. ^ Cooper, Jon (August 12, 2015). "Former AU player wearing 'State of Auburn' shirt to Alabama law school". Saturday Down South. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  5. ^ "2006 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Jets Media Relations Department (May 30, 2013). "Obomanu Signed, Garrard to Reserve/Retired". New York Jets. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  7. ^ Lange, Randy (August 31, 2013). "Jets Move 22, Get Down to 53-Man Active Roster". New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  8. ^ Ehalt, Matt (September 10, 2013). "Practice report: Jets re-sign Obomanu". ESPN New York. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  9. ^ Jets Staff (October 2, 2013). "Jets Sign WR David Nelson to Active Roster". New York Jets. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  10. ^ "Honor Council | University of Alabama School of Law".
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