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University of Massachusets Athletics
2006 Football Roster
Ihedigbo, James
Jersey Number 7
James Ihedigbo
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 202
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Amherst, Mass.
- High School:
- Amherst Regional
Bio
On Ihedigbo
• Team captain as a senior
• Explosive strong safety
• Tremendous blitzer as one of the best at getting into an opponent's backfield
• Returning starter for the Minutemen who has an outstanding motor
• Plays great around the line of scrimmage
• A leader in the secondary
• Versatile player who spent most of 2003 season at free safety
• A local product from Amherst
• Name is pronounced: E-head-dee-BOO.
As A Redshirt Senior In 2006
BUCHANAN AWARD CANDIDATE AS TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER.
WALTER CAMP ALL-AMERICAN
SPORTS NETWORK 1-AA/FCS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
COLLEGE SPORTING NEWS ALL-STAR FIRST TEAM
DON HANSEN'S FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
DON HANSEN'S ALL-NORTHEAST REGION FIRST TEAM
ATLANTIC 10 FIRST-TEAM DEFENSIVE BACK
NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS ALL-STAR TEAM
• Senior captain who has started at strong safety for the last three seasons
• Tremendous leader with tenacity which shows with his great blitzing ability
• Had 72 tackles to rank sixth on the team along with 5.5 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, four forced fumbles (topped in Atlantic 10), eight pass break-ups and three interceptions. Tied for eighth in pick-offs in the A-10.
• Had 12.5 sacks over his last 26 games.
• Made six tackles and had an interception in NCAA Final vs. Appalachian State (12/15).
• Four tackles at #2 Montana (12/8) and UMass held Griz to 250 yards with just 67 in second half.
• Made five tackles vs. #9 UNH (12/2) in NCAA Quarterfinal.
• His interception and 59-yard return vs. Lafayette (11/25) in NCAA First Round sealed the win, along with three tackles.
• Notched four tackles and break-up vs. Hofstra (11/18).
• Eight tackles including a sack for nine yards vs. #19 Maine (11/11). Also caught a 17-yard pass on a fake punt play.
• Four tackles and a blitzing sack on Ricky Santos at #9 New Hampshire (11/4).
• Preserved UMass rain-soaked win at Northeastern (10/28) with two plays in final quarter as he stopped Maurice Murray for no gain on 4-and-1 from UMass 8-yard line and intercepted his first pass of year with 1:40 left in regulation to save win.
• Made seven tackles for second week in a row vs. URI (10/21).
• At Towson (10/14), made seven tackles, had a sack for 12 yards and forced fourth fumble of the season.
• Named to Buchanan Award Watch List on Oct. 11.
• Three tackles and 0.5 TFL vs. William & Mary (10/7).
• Third forced fumble of the season and four tackles vs. Stony Brook (9/23).
• Three tackles and two pass break-ups at Villanova (9/16) including 200th career tackle.
• Named A-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 10.
• Made eight tackles including six solo, also had two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a 5-yard sack on the first defensive play of the game at Navy (9/9).
• Opened 2006 season with five tackles including a sack for eight yards, a TFL and a pass break-up vs. Colgate (9/2)
As A Redshirt Junior In 2005:
• Named to the Atlantic 10 Third Team
• Key to UMass' nation-leading scoring defense and No. 3 ranked total defense
• Starting strong safety (rover) for second year in a row
• Ranks second in the A-10 and tied for 24th in the country in sacks per game (0.73) and 30th in nation TFL average (1.33 per game)
• Led the Atlantic 10 in sacks for the first eight weeks of the season
• Third in the league in total sacks with 7.5 for 53 yards
• Led UMass in sacks and tackles for loss
• Ranked in top five in league in tackles for loss with 12 for 60 yards coming on blitzing situations
• Also had two interceptions for 12 yards
• Had 58 total tackles - to rank third on the team -- about one-fourth of his tackles for loss of yardage
• Also has five pass-break-ups and two interceptions for 12 yards
• Nine tackles at Hofstra (11/19)
• Six tackles at Army (11/12)
• Four tackles and a pass break-up at Delaware (11/5)
• Seven tackles including TFL on second play of the game after pass break-up pressure on first play of game vs. New Hampshire (10/29)
• Defensive Player of the Game at Maine (10/22) with eight tackles, an interception return for 12 yards, a sack for eight yards, a TFL for eight yards and a key forced fumble in the third quarter leading to the game-sealing TD
• Five tackles vs. No. 4 James Madison (10/15) as UMass limited JMU to 61 passing yards and 157 total yards
• Picked up fifth career interception vs. Northeastern (10/8), along with two tackles, both for loss of yards including a nine-yard sack
• Continued successful blitzing with a sack for nine yards and 1.5 TFL in win over Rhode Island (9/24)
• Had five tackles, including two half-tackles for loss and a half-sack for four yards vs. Albany (9/17)
• Posted two sacks for second game in a row (for 18 yards) and had four tackles for a loss of 22 yards and five total tackles at Colgate (9/10)
As A Redshirt Sophomore In 2004
• Local product who started nine games making 52 tackles (45 solo) at strong safety after playing mostly free safety in 2003
• Ranked sixth on the team in total tackles
• Season-best nine tackles, all solo, at New Hampshire (10/16)
• Had eight tackles, six solo vs. Maine (10/30), playing against high school mate RB Marcus Williams
• Had six tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss at Rhode Island (10/23)
• Had a key fumble recovery late in fourth quarter against the Rams
• Had four tackles, including 100th career tackle, at James Madison (10/9)
• Five tackles, three solo, and a pass break up at Boston College (10/2)
• Six tackles, five solo, vs. Delaware (9/25)
• Had six tackles and a pass break-up vs. Colgate (9/11)
As A Redshirt Freshman In 2003
• One of the top defensive backs for the Minutemen
• Received the Vic Fusia Award, as the team's most improved defensive player
• Saw action in 12 games, making 10 starts
• Totaled 74 tackles on the year, including 56 solo stops and three tackles for loss
• Tied for second on the team with four interceptions, while also posting four pass breakups, three fumble
recoveries and two forced fumbles
• Totaled eight tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup in the win over Hofstra, including a key interception in the final minute to secure the victory
• Named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week following the Hofstra game
• Recorded 10 total tackles and a fumble recovery in the win over Northeastern
• Posted 10 total tackles (including seven solo stops) and a pass breakup in the victory at Villanova
• Totaled nine tackles, including eight solo stops and a tackle for loss, in addition to breaking up a pass at
Delaware
• Recorded eight tackles (including seven solo stops and a tackle for loss) at Colgate in the NCAA playoffs, in addition to returning a blocked punt 25 yards for a touchdown
• Had seven tackles and a forced fumble in the win over Richmond
• Made four solo tackles and broke up a pass in the victory over Rhode Island
• Had four tackles in the win at William & Mary
• Totaled three tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery in the victory over New Hampshire
• Had four tackles and an interception in the win over James Madison
• Recorded four total tackles and forced a fumble in the victory at Maine
• Made three tackles and recovered a fumble at Kansas State
• Team captain as a senior
• Explosive strong safety
• Tremendous blitzer as one of the best at getting into an opponent's backfield
• Returning starter for the Minutemen who has an outstanding motor
• Plays great around the line of scrimmage
• A leader in the secondary
• Versatile player who spent most of 2003 season at free safety
• A local product from Amherst
• Name is pronounced: E-head-dee-BOO.
As A Redshirt Senior In 2006
BUCHANAN AWARD CANDIDATE AS TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER.
WALTER CAMP ALL-AMERICAN
SPORTS NETWORK 1-AA/FCS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
COLLEGE SPORTING NEWS ALL-STAR FIRST TEAM
DON HANSEN'S FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
DON HANSEN'S ALL-NORTHEAST REGION FIRST TEAM
ATLANTIC 10 FIRST-TEAM DEFENSIVE BACK
NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS ALL-STAR TEAM
• Senior captain who has started at strong safety for the last three seasons
• Tremendous leader with tenacity which shows with his great blitzing ability
• Had 72 tackles to rank sixth on the team along with 5.5 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, four forced fumbles (topped in Atlantic 10), eight pass break-ups and three interceptions. Tied for eighth in pick-offs in the A-10.
• Had 12.5 sacks over his last 26 games.
• Made six tackles and had an interception in NCAA Final vs. Appalachian State (12/15).
• Four tackles at #2 Montana (12/8) and UMass held Griz to 250 yards with just 67 in second half.
• Made five tackles vs. #9 UNH (12/2) in NCAA Quarterfinal.
• His interception and 59-yard return vs. Lafayette (11/25) in NCAA First Round sealed the win, along with three tackles.
• Notched four tackles and break-up vs. Hofstra (11/18).
• Eight tackles including a sack for nine yards vs. #19 Maine (11/11). Also caught a 17-yard pass on a fake punt play.
• Four tackles and a blitzing sack on Ricky Santos at #9 New Hampshire (11/4).
• Preserved UMass rain-soaked win at Northeastern (10/28) with two plays in final quarter as he stopped Maurice Murray for no gain on 4-and-1 from UMass 8-yard line and intercepted his first pass of year with 1:40 left in regulation to save win.
• Made seven tackles for second week in a row vs. URI (10/21).
• At Towson (10/14), made seven tackles, had a sack for 12 yards and forced fourth fumble of the season.
• Named to Buchanan Award Watch List on Oct. 11.
• Three tackles and 0.5 TFL vs. William & Mary (10/7).
• Third forced fumble of the season and four tackles vs. Stony Brook (9/23).
• Three tackles and two pass break-ups at Villanova (9/16) including 200th career tackle.
• Named A-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 10.
• Made eight tackles including six solo, also had two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a 5-yard sack on the first defensive play of the game at Navy (9/9).
• Opened 2006 season with five tackles including a sack for eight yards, a TFL and a pass break-up vs. Colgate (9/2)
As A Redshirt Junior In 2005:
• Named to the Atlantic 10 Third Team
• Key to UMass' nation-leading scoring defense and No. 3 ranked total defense
• Starting strong safety (rover) for second year in a row
• Ranks second in the A-10 and tied for 24th in the country in sacks per game (0.73) and 30th in nation TFL average (1.33 per game)
• Led the Atlantic 10 in sacks for the first eight weeks of the season
• Third in the league in total sacks with 7.5 for 53 yards
• Led UMass in sacks and tackles for loss
• Ranked in top five in league in tackles for loss with 12 for 60 yards coming on blitzing situations
• Also had two interceptions for 12 yards
• Had 58 total tackles - to rank third on the team -- about one-fourth of his tackles for loss of yardage
• Also has five pass-break-ups and two interceptions for 12 yards
• Nine tackles at Hofstra (11/19)
• Six tackles at Army (11/12)
• Four tackles and a pass break-up at Delaware (11/5)
• Seven tackles including TFL on second play of the game after pass break-up pressure on first play of game vs. New Hampshire (10/29)
• Defensive Player of the Game at Maine (10/22) with eight tackles, an interception return for 12 yards, a sack for eight yards, a TFL for eight yards and a key forced fumble in the third quarter leading to the game-sealing TD
• Five tackles vs. No. 4 James Madison (10/15) as UMass limited JMU to 61 passing yards and 157 total yards
• Picked up fifth career interception vs. Northeastern (10/8), along with two tackles, both for loss of yards including a nine-yard sack
• Continued successful blitzing with a sack for nine yards and 1.5 TFL in win over Rhode Island (9/24)
• Had five tackles, including two half-tackles for loss and a half-sack for four yards vs. Albany (9/17)
• Posted two sacks for second game in a row (for 18 yards) and had four tackles for a loss of 22 yards and five total tackles at Colgate (9/10)
As A Redshirt Sophomore In 2004
• Local product who started nine games making 52 tackles (45 solo) at strong safety after playing mostly free safety in 2003
• Ranked sixth on the team in total tackles
• Season-best nine tackles, all solo, at New Hampshire (10/16)
• Had eight tackles, six solo vs. Maine (10/30), playing against high school mate RB Marcus Williams
• Had six tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss at Rhode Island (10/23)
• Had a key fumble recovery late in fourth quarter against the Rams
• Had four tackles, including 100th career tackle, at James Madison (10/9)
• Five tackles, three solo, and a pass break up at Boston College (10/2)
• Six tackles, five solo, vs. Delaware (9/25)
• Had six tackles and a pass break-up vs. Colgate (9/11)
As A Redshirt Freshman In 2003
• One of the top defensive backs for the Minutemen
• Received the Vic Fusia Award, as the team's most improved defensive player
• Saw action in 12 games, making 10 starts
• Totaled 74 tackles on the year, including 56 solo stops and three tackles for loss
• Tied for second on the team with four interceptions, while also posting four pass breakups, three fumble
recoveries and two forced fumbles
• Totaled eight tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup in the win over Hofstra, including a key interception in the final minute to secure the victory
• Named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week following the Hofstra game
• Recorded 10 total tackles and a fumble recovery in the win over Northeastern
• Posted 10 total tackles (including seven solo stops) and a pass breakup in the victory at Villanova
• Totaled nine tackles, including eight solo stops and a tackle for loss, in addition to breaking up a pass at
Delaware
• Recorded eight tackles (including seven solo stops and a tackle for loss) at Colgate in the NCAA playoffs, in addition to returning a blocked punt 25 yards for a touchdown
• Had seven tackles and a forced fumble in the win over Richmond
• Made four solo tackles and broke up a pass in the victory over Rhode Island
• Had four tackles in the win at William & Mary
• Totaled three tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery in the victory over New Hampshire
• Had four tackles and an interception in the win over James Madison
• Recorded four total tackles and forced a fumble in the victory at Maine
• Made three tackles and recovered a fumble at Kansas State
As A Freshman In 2002
• Redshirted
Before UMass
• Played for coach Thomas Cullen at Amherst Regional High School
• Rushed for 1,012 yards and 18 touchdowns during his senior season, while totaling over 2,000 all-purpose yards
• Served as team captain as a senior, when he was also named team defensive MVP
• Two-time All-Western Massachusetts and All-League selection
• Helped team to Super Bowl championship during sophomore season
• Selected to play in the Shrine Chowder Classic Bowl
• Also a member of the basketball, lacrosse and track teams at Amherst Regional
• Earned All-County honors in basketball
Personal
• James Ugochu Ihedigbo
• Born December 3, 1983, in Northampton, Mass.
• Son of Rose Ihedigbo and the late Apollos Ihedigbo
• Has three brothers and one sister: Emeka, Nate, David, and Onyii
• Both parents attended UMass
• Majoring in Sociology
CAREER STATISTICS (Defense) Year GP UT AT TT Sacks TFL Int PBU 2003 12/10 56 18 74 0-0 3-9 4-0 4 2004 9/9 45 7 52 0-0 3-14 0-0 3 2005 11/11 33 25 58 7.5-53 12-60 2-12 3 2006 15/15 36 36 72 5-39 5.5-41 3-66 5 Totals 47/45 170 86 256 12.5-92 23.5-124 9-78 15 CAREER HIGHS Tackles: 10 vs. Northeastern (11/1/03) & Villanova (10/25/03) Interceptions: 2 vs. Hofstra (10/18/03) Sacks: 2 at Richmond (9/1/05) & at Colgate (9/10/05) Touchdowns: 1 block punt ret. for TD vs. Colgate (11/29/03)
2025 Massachusetts Football - Week 2 (Bryant) Monday Press Conference
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UMass FB | Jacquon Gibson Postgame Press Conference vs. Temple | 08.30.25
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UMass FB | Rocko Griffin Postgame Press Conference vs. Temple | 08.30.25
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UMass FB | Joe Harasymiak Postgame Press Conference vs. Temple | 08.30.25
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