After graduating from Dublin Coffman High School, Ndukwe went on to start at safety for the University of Notre Dame for his junior and senior seasons.

[citation needed] During his tenure at Notre Dame, his fellow Dublin Coffman graduate, Brady Quinn, was his roommate.

[2] Ndukwe made an immediate impact by playing in 14 games and starting two in place of an injured Dexter Jackson at strong safety.

In a November game against the Ravens, Ndukwe intercepted a Kyle Boller pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

In the season finale against the Miami Dolphins, Ndukwe returned a fumble 54 yards for a touchdown that put the Bengals ahead 28-10 in the fourth quarter.

On January 30, 2012, Ndukwe made his voiceover debut, working for NFL Films as the narrator for ESPN's Hey Rookie.