"There are times in your career when you meet someone and just know that they are going to be a superstar in the profession," said Helton. "Kenechi is that person. I was blown away by his attention to detail with technique and fundamentals in our recent bowl game preparation and in the interview process. His knowledge of the game is something that is going to be critical to the development of our young defensive line. Kenechi is a Trojan to the core and his passion for USC is felt by all."
Udeze, now 32, was a three-year (2001-03) starting defensive end at USC, recording 135 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 28 sacks, an NCAA record-tying 14 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries in his career. As a junior in 2003 on USC's national championship team, he was a consensus All-American first teamer, leading the nation in sacks, ranking fourth in tackles for loss and ninth in forced fumbles, as the only player in the nation in the Top 9 in each of those categories. His 26 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks in 2003 were the most by a Trojan defensive lineman since Tim Ryan in 1989, and he was the first Trojan with double digits in sacks since Willie McGinest in 1992.
After the Minnesota Vikings selected him 20th overall, he played four full seasons before being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (a blood cancer). He received chemotherapy treatments and had a bone marrow transplant from his brother. He was the Vikings' recipient of the 2008 NFL Ed Block Courage Award, as voted by his teammates. After attempting to return to the playing field in 2009 but struggling with peripheral neuropathy in his feet as a result of chemotherapy, Udeze retired from the NFL that summer. His leukemia is in remission.
Udeze quickly transitioned to a career in coaching, serving as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Washington for three years (2009-11), where he also worked with the defensive line. In 2012, he was the assistant defensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks. Then in 2013, he was with the Minnesota Vikings during fall camp and the pre-season as part of an NFL minority coaching fellowship, including working with the defensive line. He was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Pittsburgh in 2014, helping with the defensive line there as well.
Known in his college days as "BKU" for "Big" Kenechi Udeze, he showed up to USC at 375 pounds, but became a weight room warrior, sculpting his body into a 275-pound pass rushing machine.
