Haruki Nakamura
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Career Summary
Haruki Nakamura is a former NFL safety who played five seasons with Baltimore and Carolina after a career at Cincinnati.
Nakamura appeared in 69 regular-season games over five NFL seasons. NFL.com lists him as a free safety from Cincinnati, and he spent four seasons with Baltimore before joining Carolina in 2012.
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Early Life
Nakamura grew up in Elyria, Ohio, and began playing football in a community program as a child.
Nakamura told Cincinnati that his older brother Yoshi introduced him to football by getting him into a community program. His mother initially preferred that he focus on judo and baseball.
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High School
Nakamura attended St. Edward High School near Cleveland, Ohio.
At St. Edward, Nakamura considered leaving football during his junior year to focus on wrestling and baseball, but decided to remain with the sport. Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio recruited him after seeing his high-school film.
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College Career
Nakamura became a first-team All-Big East safety at Cincinnati during his senior season.
As a senior, Nakamura led Cincinnati with 95 tackles, intercepted four passes and forced three fumbles. He also returned 15 punts, helping establish himself as one of the Bearcats' defensive leaders.
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Path to the NFL
The Baltimore Ravens selected Nakamura in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Nakamura entered the NFL after Cincinnati as a sixth-round selection of Baltimore, 206th overall, in 2008.
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NFL Career
Nakamura totaled 69 games, 90 tackles, seven passes defensed and two interceptions in the NFL.
Nakamura played 16 games in each of his first and third NFL seasons with Baltimore. In 2012 with Carolina, he made 13 starts, recorded 51 tackles, four passes defensed and two interceptions.
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Career Accomplishments
Nakamura's 2012 season set career highs in starts, tackles, passes defensed and interceptions.
NFL statistics credit Nakamura with 13 starts, 51 total tackles, four passes defensed and two interceptions for Carolina in 2012. His 39 interception-return yards that season were also his career total.
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Playing Style
Nakamura played free safety and was known at Cincinnati for an intense, effort-driven approach.
Nakamura described himself to Cincinnati as an intense, effort-oriented player. At the college level, his judo training was noted as part of the physical approach he brought to the field.
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22112, 00-0026346, 1986-04-18, Haruki Nakamura, Haruki, Nakamura
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