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Former Trojan Udeze Diagnosed With Leukemia

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Feb 12, 2008 8:56 am US/Pacific

Former Trojan Udeze Diagnosed With Leukemia

Udeze, 24, Currently Hospitalized In Twin Cities Area

MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ― Vikings starting defensive end Kenechi Udeze has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia.

Sources told Minneapolis CBS station WCCO that Udeze was not in Minnesota when he found out. He received the news last week and he is now being hospitalized in the Twin Cities.

"With reports surfacing about Kenechi Udeze's condition, we respect the privacy of Kenechi," said head coach Brad Childress. "The thoughts and prayers of the entire Minnesota Vikings organization are with Kenechi and his family."

The seriousness of Udeze's cancer has not been disclosed.

Agent Ethan Lock declined to comment on his 24-year-old client.

Udeze was a first-round draft pick out of Southern California in 2004. He has 11 sacks in 51 career games, having missed most of the 2005 season with a knee injury.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.