Erik Ezukanma
No. 18 – Miami Dolphins
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2000-01-25) January 25, 2000 (age 23)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Timber Creek
(Fort Worth, Texas)
College:Texas Tech (2018–2021)
NFL Draft:2022 / Round: 4 / Pick: 125
Career history
Roster status:Reserve/non-football injury
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:3
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Chukwuerika "Erik" Ezukanma (/ɛzuˈkɑːnmə/ ezz-oo-KAHN-mə;[1] born January 25, 2000) is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech.

High school career

Ezukanma attended Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2015, as a sophomore, he was a second-team all-district selection. The next year, Ezukanma was an AP 6A first-team all-state selection and was named the District 3-6A Offensive MVP.[2] Ezukanma finished his senior season with 37 receptions for 687 yards and nine touchdowns.[3]

On December 20, 2017, Ezukanma signed his letter of intent for Texas Tech as a 4-star recruit.[4]

College career

Ezukanma saw limited playing during his freshman season, appearing in only two games. He caught his first collegiate touchdown from Colt Garret in the Red Raiders' game against Lamar.[5]

Ezukanma was added to the watch list for the Fred Biletnikoff Award in the middle of the 2020 season.[6] On November 28, against Oklahoma State, Ezukanma finished with seven receptions for a career high 183 yards along with two touchdowns.[7] At the end of the season, Ezukanma was named first-team All-Big 12.[8]

Coming into the 2021 season, Ezukanma was included on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award and the Fred Biletnikoff Award.[9][10] He was also selected to the preseason first-team All-Big 12.[11] Ezukanma broke his arm in the spring prior to the season, but was able to play in the team's season opener against Houston, finishing the game with seven receptions for 179 yards.[12][13] After the conclusion of the regular season, Ezukanma was named second-team All-Big 12.[14]

On December 23, 2021, Ezukanma announced that he would declare for the NFL draft.[15]

College statistics

Texas Tech Red Raiders
Season Team GP Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD
2018 Texas Tech 2 2 48 24.0 1 0 0 0.0 0
2019 Texas Tech 11 42 664 15.8 4 0 0 0.0 0
2020 Texas Tech 10 46 748 16.3 6 0 0 0.0 0
2021 Texas Tech 11 48 705 14.7 4 10 138 13.8 2
Career 34 138 2,165 15.7 15 10 138 13.8 2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		209 lb
(95 kg) 		33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m) 		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.55 s 1.57 s 2.59 s 4.38 s 7.20 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)		 10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)		 10 reps
Sources:[16][17]

Ezukanma was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round (125 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.[18] Ezukanma made his NFL debut in Week 18 against the New York Jets, recording his first career catch on a three–yard reception from Skylar Thompson.[19]

He was placed on the reserve/non-football injury on September 29, 2023.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Player Name Pronunciations". MiamiDolphins.com. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech, Wide Receiver". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Erik Ezukanma High School Football Stats Timber Creek (Fort Worth, TX)". Max Preps. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Erik Ezukanma Timeline Events". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "Texas Tech most points since '05 in 77-0 shutout over Lamar". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 8, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Two Red Raiders make Biletnikoff watch list". KAMC. June 22, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Clark, Ronald (November 28, 2020). "Texas Tech's comeback falls short against Oklahoma State". KCBD. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "2020 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced". Big 12 Conference. December 17, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "2021 Maxwell Award Watch List". Maxwell Football Club. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "2021 Fred Biletnikoff Award Watch List". Tallahassee Quarterback Club Association. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  11. ^ "2021 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Matt Wells provides update on Erik Ezukanma's injury recovery". KAMC. July 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "Shough, Brooks lead Texas Tech to 38-21 win over Houston". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 4, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "2021 All-Big 12 Football Team" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  15. ^ Clark, James (December 23, 2021). "Texas Tech's Ezukanma to pursue his dreams in 2022 NFL draft". Everything Lubbock. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  16. ^ "Erik Ezukanma Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech, WR, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "The Reaction: Miami Dolphins Select WR Erik Ezukanma with No. 125 Pick". MiamiDolphins.com. April 30, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Dolphins WR Erik Ezukanma explains difficulty in jumping to the NFL". dolphinswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  20. ^ "Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves". MiamiDolphins.com. September 29, 2023.

External links

Miami Dolphins roster
Miami Dolphins 2022 NFL Draft selections
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