E. J. Kuale
Encyclopedia
Ejiro "E. J." Megetaveh Kuale [kuh-WAL-ee] (born June 22, 1983) is a professional American and Canadian football
defensive lineman with the Toronto Argonauts
of the Canadian Football League
. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
for the LSU Tigers
.
Kuale has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs
and Calgary Stampeders
.
. During his high school
career he was a First Team selection to the 5A all-state team, all-Southeast, and helped lead Mainland High School in Daytona Beach to a District 4-5A title. As a senior he had 120 tackles, 9.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries and seven forced fumbles.
, Kuale played mainly on special teams. He was credited with special teams tackles against Clemson
, Maryland
and NC State
. After the season Kuale decided to transfer to Dodge City Community College
and sat out the 2002 season.
in tackles with 124 and three sacks. He was named Third Team All-Junior College and All-Conference.
and started two games for the Tigers. He started the season as the starter at strong side linebacker. He totaled 22 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two sacks. Against Ole Miss
he totaled five tackles.
, Kuale debuted against North Texas
on October 29. In the first few games after his return he played sparingly before playing most of the game against Arkansas
. In the Arkansas game he recorded five tackles and then had another five tackles and a sack against Georgia
in the SEC Championship Game
. Against Miami
in the Chick-fil-a Bowl
he had one sack.
, Kuale signed with the New Orleans Saints
. He was released before being re-signed before the 2007 season. In May 2008, Kuale signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
.
on May 7, 2009. He was released on June 25, 2009.
On February 22, 2010, Kuale signed with the Toronto Argonauts. For the 2010 CFL season, he ranked 3rd on the team in special teams tackles. In the playoffs, he was also employed as a part-time fullback and recorded one catch for 12 yards in Toronto's semi-final victory over the Hamilton Tiger-cats.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
defensive lineman with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
Kuale has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
.
Early years
Kuale was born in Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
. During his high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
career he was a First Team selection to the 5A all-state team, all-Southeast, and helped lead Mainland High School in Daytona Beach to a District 4-5A title. As a senior he had 120 tackles, 9.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries and seven forced fumbles.
Georgia Tech
As a freshman in 2001 with Georgia TechGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, Kuale played mainly on special teams. He was credited with special teams tackles against Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and NC State
NC State Wolfpack
The athletic teams of the North Carolina State University, known as the Wolfpack, compete in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles...
. After the season Kuale decided to transfer to Dodge City Community College
Dodge City Community College
Dodge City Community College is located on the Central High Plains in Ford County, southwest Kansas.-Campus:For 22 years, the College was located on the third floor of the Senior High School Building at 1601 First Avenue. By 1957, it had grown large enough to require a move to a different...
and sat out the 2002 season.
Dodge Community College
Kuale led the Kansas Jayhawk Community College ConferenceKansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference is a college athletic conference that is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association...
in tackles with 124 and three sacks. He was named Third Team All-Junior College and All-Conference.
2004
Kuale transferred to Louisiana StateLSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
and started two games for the Tigers. He started the season as the starter at strong side linebacker. He totaled 22 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two sacks. Against Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
he totaled five tackles.
2005
After missing the first six games in the season with a broken ankleAnkle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
, Kuale debuted against North Texas
North Texas Mean Green football
The North Texas Mean Green football team represents the University of North Texas in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-FBS college football and competes as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green have attained several conference championships, including four...
on October 29. In the first few games after his return he played sparingly before playing most of the game against Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
. In the Arkansas game he recorded five tackles and then had another five tackles and a sack against Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
in the SEC Championship Game
SEC Championship Game
The SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...
. Against Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in the Chick-fil-a Bowl
Chick-fil-A Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly called the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and before that simply called the Peach Bowl, is an annual college football bowl game played in Atlanta, Georgia since December 1968. The first three Peach Bowls were played at Grant Field on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta....
he had one sack.
National Football League
In May 2006 after going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
, Kuale signed with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He was released before being re-signed before the 2007 season. In May 2008, Kuale signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
.
Canadian Football League
Kuale signed with the Calgary StampedersCalgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
on May 7, 2009. He was released on June 25, 2009.
On February 22, 2010, Kuale signed with the Toronto Argonauts. For the 2010 CFL season, he ranked 3rd on the team in special teams tackles. In the playoffs, he was also employed as a part-time fullback and recorded one catch for 12 yards in Toronto's semi-final victory over the Hamilton Tiger-cats.