Chris Kemoeatu
 Kemoeatu during the 2011 season | |||||
| No. 68 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | January 4, 1983 Kahuku, Hawaii,U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 344 lb (156 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Kahuku | ||||
| College: | Utah | ||||
| NFL draft: | 2005/ Round: 6 / Pick: 204 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats atPFR | |||||
Uikelotu Christopher Kemoeatu(pronounced[kemo.e.ˈatu];born January 4, 1983) is aTonganformer professionalAmerican footballguard.He playedcollege footballfor theUniversity of UtahUtes,and was selected by thePittsburgh Steelersin the sixth round of the2005 NFL draft.He is the younger brother of former NFLnose tackleMa'ake Kemoeatu.
Early life
[edit]Kemoeatu was born inKahuku, Hawaii.[1][2]He is the younger brother ofMa'ake Kemoeatu,who also played football for theUniversity of Utahand later entered the NFL. When Kemoeatu was three years old, the family moved toHawaii.[3]
Kemoeatu grew up inKahuku, Hawaii,in northern O'ahu. He attendedKahuku High School,where he played for the school's football team. He helped lead the school to their first state championship, and was named the 2000 Hawaii High School Defensive Player of the Year. Also selected first-team all state and all league (OIA) as a defensive lineman. As a junior was selected honorable mention all state defensive lineman. Kemoeatu played on both sides of the ball in high school before playing offensive line at Utah.
College career
[edit]Kemoeatu enrolled at theUniversity of Utah,where he played for theUtah Utes footballteam. Originally recruited as a defensive lineman, he was moved to offensive guard by coachRon McBride.In 2004, his senior year, Kemoeatu was namedAll-American.He majored in Sociology.
Professional career
[edit]
Kemoeatu was selected by thePittsburgh Steelersin the sixth round (204th overall) in the2005 NFL draft.[4]In his rookie season, he was inactive for 15 games and did not get any playing time. The following year, he made his first two starts of his career. He played 16 games throughout the 2007 season. He began the 2008 Steelers training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but began practicing in the second week.[5]
In 2008, Kemoeatu replaced seven timePro BowlerAlan Fanecaon the Steelers' offensive line, after Faneca signed with theNew York Jetsin the said offseason.[6]
After the Steelers wonSuper Bowl XLIII,they re-signed Kemoeatu to a five-year contract.[7]
At the end of the 2010 season, Kemoeatu and the Steelers appeared inSuper Bowl XLV.He was a starter in the 31–25 loss to theGreen Bay Packers.[8]
He was released on March 3, 2012.
Personal
[edit]Kemoeatu is the son of Manako Melino and Ahea Kolovetekina Kemoeatu, and has six siblings. His elder brothersMa'akeand Tevita also attended Utah, playing defensive line. His younger brother, Benji, signed to play guard for theWest Virginia UniversityMountaineersbut didn't actually attend.[9]
On August 27, 2014, Chris received a kidney transplant from his brother, Ma'ake.[10][11]
Honours
[edit]- National honours
Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III,Member (31 July 2008).[12]
References
[edit]- ^"Chris Kemoeatu".Pro Football Reference.RetrievedOctober 23,2020.
- ^"Finder: Mean Joe gets a kick out of guard's play".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.May 29, 2005.RetrievedOctober 23,2020.
- ^"Tongan pair join Big Ben centre stage".The Australian.Agence France-Presse.February 2, 2009.RetrievedNovember 23,2010.
- ^"2005 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMay 7,2023.
- ^Brown, Scott (August 4, 2008)."Polamalu waits for OK to practice".Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2008.RetrievedAugust 4,2008.
- ^Dulac, Gerry (September 5, 2008)."Steelers left guard Kemoeatu plays with nasty edge as Faneca's heir".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedSeptember 6,2008.
- ^Steelers Retain EssexYahoo Sports, March 17, 2009
- ^"Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedDecember 15,2017.
- ^Harris, John (October 19, 2008)."Kemoeatu's work ethic rooted in family".Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.RetrievedDecember 12,2020.
- ^Gantt, Darin."ProFootball Talk Article".
- ^Litman, Laken (September 18, 2014)."Ravens player retires to give kidney to younger brother, a retired Steelers player".USA Today.RetrievedSeptember 18,2014.
- ^"Royal orders presented at Palace".Matangi Tonga. August 1, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon January 21, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 2,2022.
External links
[edit]
Media related toChris Kemoeatuat Wikimedia Commons
- 1983 births
- Living people
- Players of American football from Hawaii
- American people of Tongan descent
- American football offensive guards
- Utah Utes football players
- Pittsburgh Steelers players
- Kidney transplant recipients
- People from Oahu
- Sportspeople from Honolulu County, Hawaii
- Members of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III