March 28, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Strong safety Ekene Agwuenu (E-Kenny Ah-GWIN-new), who played three seasons at University of Nevada, has enrolled spring quarter at Western Washington University and will play football for the Vikings this fall. Making that announcement was Viking head coach Rob Smith.

A 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior from Chino Hills, Calif., Agwuenu sat out last season after earning three letters and starting three games for the NCAA Division I Wolfpack.

In 2003, Agwuenu played in all 11 games, being credited with 34 tackles. He competed in nine games in 2002, having 18 tackles, and had 20 tackles in 10 games in 2001 as a redshirt freshman.

Agwuenu was a first-team all-Sierra League choice as a senior at Ayala High School as a running back on offense and a safety on defense, and was named the Bulldogs' Student-Athlete of the Year.

Western, which was 6-4 last season, returns 37 letter winners, including 14 starters.

EKENE AGWUENU (18) (E-KENNY AH-GWIN-NEW)Strong SafetySenior, 6-1, 200, 22, 10/27/82Chino Hills, CA

COLLEGE: Transfer from NCAA Division I University of Nevada ... Sat out last season ... Three-year letter winner for Wolfpack ... Played in all 11 games as junior in 2003, being credited with 34 tackles ... Had 18 tackles in nine contests (one start) as sophomore, including 1.5 quarterback sacks for minus-12 yards ... Also recovered 1 fumble and returned it 9 yards ... Credited with 20 tackles in 10 games (2 starts) as freshman with 2 for loss of minus-13 yards, including 1 sack for minus-9 yards ... Redshirt one year.

HIGH SCHOOL: First-team all-Sierra League choice as running back on offense and safety on defense as senior at Ayala High School ... Inland Empire all-star and member of academic team ... Helped Bulldogs reach second round of CIF playoffs in Division 2 ... Team MVP ... Named school's Student-Athlete of the Year ... Started two years and lettered three ... Also earned four letters in basketball.

PERSONAL: Major is computer information systems.