A Towson University football player who was reported missing about a week ago has been found safe, police said Tuesday morning.
Chizurum “Benedict” Umunakwe, a 22-year-old junior linebacker from the Bronx, New York had been last seen on Monday, March 15, at about 10 a.m. in a car wearing his No. 21 jersey.
Police had said the student could be in emotional distress, and a friend indicated he had driven as far as North Carolina. Umunakwe was found in Georgia, university officials said.
His teammates, friends, coaches and even competing teams and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had shared posts on social media with pleas to help find Umunakwe, who is known as “Chiz.”
The pleas on Twitter sparked the widespread use of the hashtag “FindChiz.”
In 2018, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Umunakwe was one of only two true freshmen to play in all 12 games for Towson, serving on special teams. He finished that season with six tackles.
The following year, Umunakwe totaled 37 tackles and 3 ½ tackles for loss as a reserve middle linebacker and special teams player. He established a career-high eight tackles, including five solo stops and one for loss, in the Tigers’ 27-10 loss at James Madison on Oct. 26.
Towson did not play in 2020 after the fall season was suspended by the coronavirus pandemic. The school then opted out of the 2021 spring season citing the risk of long-term injuries as a reason.
Latest College Football
Baltimore Sun reporter Christine Condon contributed to this story.
