According to College Transfer Portal, Houston free agent OL David Ndukwe (6-6 325) is on an official visit to South Carolina through Wednesday. Ndukwe, who has played left tackle, missed most of the 2025 season after suffering a dislocated left knee in the second game, but the NCAA granted him another season of eligibility for 2026.
Ndukwe is a native of Decatur, GA who played his first three seasons in college at Western Kentucky. He moved to Houston for the 2023 season and became a starter the next season when he allowed just one sack in 227 opportunities.
South Carolina recently added junior college offensive tackle Ashton Mozone to the roster for 2026. The Gamecocks have two of their top tackles out with injuries this spring in Jacarrius Peak and Josiah Thompson. Thompson has been declared out for the season.
Houston bio on David Ndukwe
As a Senior (2025)
- Played in two games before injury
- Started at left tackle against Colorado
- 25 offensive snaps
- Missed 11 games due to injury
As a Junior (2024)
- Earned Master of Science in Global Retailing in December 2024
- Fall Academic All-Big 12 Conference
- Played 11 games on the line, starting nine games – all at left tackle
- 81.8 pass-block grade (PFF) ranked second on team
- 480 snaps played including 479 at left tackle
- Just one sack allowed in 227 opportunities
- No pressures allowed in seven of first nine games
- No hurries allowed in eight of 11 games
- 90.0 pass-block grade at Kansas (Oct. 19) – no hurries in 33 chances
- Grade vs. Jayhawks ranked second among all Big 12 o-linemen in Week 8
As a Sophomore (2023)
- Three games played
- 18 snaps at left tackle; 11 snaps on FG/XP kick
- 12 snaps (left tackle) at Kansas State (Oct. 28)
- Six snaps (left tackle) vs. Sam Houston (Sept. 23)
- No pressures allowed in seven chances on the season
Prior to Houston
- Spent three seasons at Western Kentucky (2020-22)
- Appeared in 13 games
- All 17 snaps during 2022 came at left tackle
- Appeared in one game during 2022
- Action came in in team’s 73-0 blowout win over FIU
- 39 snaps on defensive line during 2021
- 11 snaps on field goal/extra-point block during 2021
- Appeared in six games during team’s run to a Conference USA East Division title
- Finished season with two tackles
- 35 of 36 snaps during 2020 came via field goal/extra-point block
- Played seven games during 2020
High School
- Prepped at Arabia Mountain
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals
- 85 rating score by 247sports
- 88th in the nation among defensive tackles by 247Sports
- Offers from Syracuse, Western Kentucky and South Alabama among others
Personal
- Earned Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Western Kentucky
- Nickname: Lil Dave
- Hobbies: hanging with friends and playing video games
- Describes himself as outgoing, determined and resilient
- Favorite childhood memory is winning championship in park football in seventh grade
- Game day ritual includes getting a clear mind
- Played against current teammate Justin Benton in 2019
- Dream job outside of football: talk show host or entrepreneur
- He very into fashion
- Community service/volunteer activities: Delivered backpacks to kids at Roderick Paige Elementary in August 2024
- Favorite TV show or series: All-American
- Favorite sports memories as a fan: Watching the Seahawks on the Super Bowl XLVII
- Hidden talent: mathematician
- His uncle Ike Ndukwe played for Georgia Southern
- Chose UH because he loves the school, the city, and the football program
- One word to describe himself on the field: Mission-focused
- If he could eat one food for the rest of his life: wings
- His motivation for working hard: his mom Florence Ndukwe
- Best advice: everyday you wake up is another day to make for a better tomorrow.
- Highlight of his life: winning two bowl games at Western Kentucky
- Sports hero: Bradley Chubb and Deforest Buckner
- Most memorable athletic accomplishment: both the 2021 and 2022 bowl game wins
- Unique fact: He loves music