Nwaneri had a happy ending to a career that was sidetracked in 2005 by his suspension from the team and his subsequent lawsuit against the university. Nwaneri went before a Superior Court judge, asking for a restraining order that would have allow him to re-enroll at Purdue and rejoin the team until a trial is held.

Nwaneri was suspended for the 2005 fall semester by Purdue executive associate dean of students Steve Akers following a July altercation with former teammate Ryan Noblet, who has since transferred to Arkansas. Akers' decision was upheld by the eight-member Campus Appeal Board, which is composed of Purdue students, staff and faculty.

The suit alleged that Noblet started the altercation and lunged at Nwaneri when "Uche, in a reasonable attempt to protect himself, struck Noblet, accidentally fracturing his jaw." The lawsuit stated Nwaneri gave a statement to Purdue police July 15 at its headquarters. The suit alleges he later returned to ask for a police report, but a detective threatened him, accused him of lying and tried to coerce him into a fight.

Akers informed Nwaneri on July 28 that he was suspended for the semester because he was guilty of "battering Ryan Noblet, resulting in serious bodily injury," the suit said. It also alleged Nwaneri was not allowed to use an attorney to argue his case before the committee. University rules prohibit students from doing so. "We were gagged," said Nwaneri's attorney, Courtney B. Justice, who was allowed to attend the hearing. "He was effectively denied the most important civil right of all, which is the right to a lawyer."

The lawsuit also alleges that Cathy Sleeth, senior assistant to the Office of Admissions and chairwoman of the Campus Appeals Board, in her capacity as chair of the appeals hearing, acted in a biased manner by repeatedly interrupting Nwaneri as he attempted to represent himself and praising Akers' character and decision to suspend Nwaneri.

Justice said Nwaneri was denied due process of law at the appeals hearing, as Sleeth's comments potentially biased the staff, faculty and students hearing the case against him.

The lawsuit also alleged that before the appeal, Nwaneri was detained for questioning at the Purdue University Police Department and that he was "sweated" in a room by a large, white police detective who repeatedly insisted he was lying and told him he would go to trial and to jail.

Nwaneri was rated the 48th-best defensive tackle in the nation by Student Sports magazine as a senior at Naaman Forest High School. He was a second-team All-District choice that year after recording 57 tackles, including three sacks, and recovering two fumbles. He had 37 tackles, including one sack, and one fumble recovery as a junior. After his final season, he played in the Coca-Cola Classic All-Star Game. He also participated in track and field.

Nwaneri enrolled at Purdue in 2002, spending the season adjusting to offensive guard on the scout team, after originally being recruited as a defensive tackle. He appeared in three games as a reserve guard in 2003, taking over left guard duties in 2004. He started all 12 games that year, producing 44 knockdowns as part of an offensive line that helped the Boilermakers rank fourth in the nation in passing offense at 321.2 yards per game.

After returning from his 2005 suspension, Nwaneri reclaimed the left guard position in 2006, starting all 14 games. His drive blocking helped the team rank 13th in the nation, averaging 415.7 yards per game in total offense.

Positives: Has a thick frame with solid chest and arm muscles, thick thighs and calves, long arms and big hands … Shows good knee bend and flexibility, playing with a strong base while demonstrating the balance to pivot and adjust to the speed rush … Keeps a wide leg base with solid ankle flexibility and has good lateral movement on pulls and traps … Takes proper blocking angles dropping back in pass protection and shows quick feet to get out of his stance with a good base to adjust to backfield movement … Lowers his hips and drives with his legs to move the pile, using his natural strength to be an explosive mauler … Flashes to the second level after the initial engagement and uses his size to take over on blocks, doing a nice job of locking on and grinding it out to keep his feet moving when incline blocking … Very physical with his hand punch and comes off the snap with hands properly extended to gain advantage … Makes proper body adjustments on the move and has the vision to adjust to twists and stunts … Follows through with power and consistently finishes his blocks … Comes out quickly on the pull, adjusting to turn up inside … Has the balance needed to fluidly slide down the line … Plays flat-footed, which allows him to easily change directions.

Negatives: While he generates good power, he lacks consistent explosion coming off the snap (has the burst, but needs to do it more regularly) … Has to increase his lower body power in order to sustain blocks better and anchor to prevent the charge (gets his base narrow at times, preventing him from sustaining blocks) … While he does get physical with his hands, he will miss at times when trying to jolt (must learn to keep his hands inside the frame in order to be efficient) … Lunges at times when incline blocking, as he does not always open his hips properly, causing him to struggle in attempts to drive his man off the ball, especially vs. the two-gap defensive linemen … Slow to react to the defender's spin moves and misses picking up stunts when he keeps his head down (much better when his head is up and his stance is low).

Compares To: ROB SIMS-Seattle … Like Sims, Nwaneri has the frame to occupy multiple defenders. He is still a work in progress as far as hand placement and base issues are concerned, but he plays with good fire in his belly. Both guards do not fret over a bad play and both have above average upper body strength to maul. Nwaneri is good on pulls and traps and when he does shoot his hands, he has the power to knock defenders back.

All 26 of his career starts came at the left offensive guard position.

All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report … Started all fourteen games at left offensive guard, teaming with fellow left tackle Mike Otto to not allow any of the team's 20 quarterback sacks … Graded 82.1% for blocking consistency, as he allowed just three pressures while collecting 72 knockdowns and ten touchdown-resulting blocks … Part of a blocking unit that helped the team rank 13th in the nation in total offense (415.71 ypg) and sixth in passing offense (291.57 ypg) … The Boilermakers were stopped behind line of scrimmage just 50 times out of 941 plays (once every 18.8 plays) … Their average of 3.57 tackles for loss allowed per game led the nation … The line

surrendered merely 20 sacks (third-fewest in Big Ten) in 541 passing attempts (one every 27.1 attempts).

Indiana State … On the team's first scoring drive for the season, Nwaneri cleared a rush lane used by tailback Kory Sheets for a 5-yard touchdown run, helping the offense total 501 yards.

Miami (Oh.) … Kory Sheets used a hole created by his left guard for a 2-yard scoring run that ended a 68-yard, 10-play second quarter drive, as the team piled up 391 yards,

Ball State … Posted eight knockdowns and was out in front as the lead blocker on QB Curtis Painter's 3-yard scoring burst in the second quarter that concluded an 80-yard drive, as Purdue gained a season-high 533 yards.

Minnesota … Crashed into linebacker Mike Sherels, giving QB Curtis Painter time to throw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaycen Taylor to end a fourth quarter series that totaled 93 yards on nine plays.

Northwestern … Introduced linebacker Adam Kadela to the ground on Curtis Painter's 19-yard scoring toss to Dustin Keller in the second quarter, finishing with eight knockdowns as Purdue generated 510 yards.

Michigan State … Had six knockdowns and held off linebacker David Herron on Curtis Painter's 25-yard touchdown pass to Dorien Bryant in the first quarter, as the team picked up 363 yards.

Illinois … Took down defensive end Doug Pilcher on a 42-yard scoring scamper by Curtis Painter that ended an 8-play, 80-yard drive in the third quarter, posting seven knockdowns for a unit that had 431 yards.

Sat out the year after being suspended by the university (see story above).

Started all 12 games sat left offensive guard … Collected 44 knockdowns with six touchdown-resulting blocks and graded 79.1 percent for blocking consistency, allowing three of the 31 sacks given up by the offensive line … Helped the offense rank fourth in the nation in passing (321.17 ypg) and 13th in total offense (446.5 ypg).

Syracuse … Took down defensive end James Wyche on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jerod Void on a third-&-goal play in the first quarter, helping the Boilermakers generate 571 yards.

Illinois … Upended defensive tackle Chris Norwell to spring QB Kyle Orton for a 1-yard touchdown run on a bootleg that capped a 13-play, 73-yard second quarter drive, as the team totaled 515 yards.

Penn State … Pushed defensive tackle Scott Paxson to the ground on a 2-yard scoring run by Brandon Jones that ended a 7-play, 86-yard drive in the second quarter, finishing with seven knockdowns as Purdue collected 348 yards.

Indiana … Had a season-high 90% grade for blocking consistency, leveling defensive tackle Jodie Clemons on a 52-yard scoring bomb from QB Kyle Orton to Kyle Ingraham that ended an 8-play, 81-yard first quarter drive.

Appeared briefly as a reserve offensive guard in the Arizona, Illinois and Northwestern contests.

Redshirted as a freshman, spending the season adjusting to offensive guard from defensive tackle.

Campus: 5.37 in the 40-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times … 27.5-inch vertical jump … 8'1" broad jump.

Combine: 5.44 in the 40-yard dash … 1.87 10-yard dash … 3.13 20-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times.

Attended Naaman Forest (Garland, Texas) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Patterson … Rated the 48th-best defensive tackle in the nation by Student Sports magazine as a senior … Second-team All-District choice that year after making 57 tackles, including three sacks, and recovering two fumbles … Had 37 tackles, including one sack, and one fumble recovery as a junior … After his final season, he played in the Coca-Cola Classic All-Star Game … Also participated in track and field.

Law and Society major … Parents came to the United States from Nigeria in 1973 … His first name means "God's wish" and his middle name means "through God he shows mercy" in his native language … Born Uchechukwu Eberechukwu Nwaneri on 3/20/84 … Resides in Garland, Texas.