Obi Ezeh facts for kids
Ezeh attempts to shoestring tackle Beanie Wells during the 2008 Michigan – Ohio State rivalry game.
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| No. 92 | |||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | February 2, 1988 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Died: | May 5, 2024 (aged 36) | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Weight: | 243 lb (110 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Catholic Central (Grand Rapids) | ||
| College: | Michigan | ||
| Undrafted: | 2011 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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Obi Pius Ezeh (born February 2, 1988 – died May 5, 2024) was an American college football player. He played as a linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines team. He was considered one of the top linebackers in college football.
Obi Ezeh was even named to the watchlist for the Butkus Award in 2009. This award goes to the best linebacker in college football. He finished his college career as the player with the most tackles on the Wolverines team.
In high school, Obi Ezeh was a talented running back on offense. He helped his team, Catholic Central High School, win many games. He set a school record for rushing yards, gaining almost 3,000 yards in his career. In his senior year, he made a key play that sent his team to the state championship game. Obi Ezeh was also a strong rugby player, helping his high school team win three state championships.
At the University of Michigan, Obi Ezeh started as a "redshirt" freshman. This means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to gain experience. He later became a starting middle linebacker for the Wolverines. He had many great games, including ones against rival teams like Michigan State and Ohio State.
After college, Obi Ezeh tried to play professional football. He signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent in 2011.
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High School Football Star
Obi Ezeh was a standout athlete from Grand Rapids, Michigan. When he was younger, he was too big to play football in local leagues. But he found his place on the high school team.
As a sophomore, he played running back for Catholic Central. He often gained over 100 yards in games. He also scored many touchdowns for his team. Obi Ezeh was also a member of the school's successful rugby team.
In his junior year, he continued to shine as a running back. He gained over 900 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He was recognized as one of the best players in the state. His rugby team also won their third straight State Championship.
As a senior in 2005, Obi Ezeh was the main player in his school's running game. He was ranked as one of the top football players in Michigan. He also got an invitation to try out for the United States national rugby union team.
In a big playoff game, Obi Ezeh returned a kickoff for an 80-yard touchdown. He also rushed for 136 yards. He scored a two-point conversion that gave his team a thrilling 35–34 victory. This win sent them to the state championship game at Ford Field.
By the end of high school, Obi Ezeh had set a school record. He gained 2,914 career rushing yards and scored 33 touchdowns. He also played some linebacker, making 34 tackles.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obi Ezeh RB |
Grand Rapids, Michigan | Catholic Central (MI) | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 219.5 lb (99.6 kg) | 4.6 | Dec 11, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 69 |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 72 (RB) Rivals: 51 (RB), 12 (MI) ESPN: 130 (RB) | ||||||
Sources: |
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Playing for the Michigan Wolverines
Obi Ezeh joined the Michigan Wolverines team. He took a "redshirt" year as a freshman. This meant he could practice and learn without using a year of his college playing eligibility. He also changed his jersey number and switched from playing fullback to linebacker.
Battling for a Starting Spot
As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Obi Ezeh competed for the starting middle linebacker position. He was trying to replace a player who had gone on to the NFL. At first, it seemed he might not get the starting job.
But after another player got injured, Obi Ezeh stepped up. He became a regular starter for the team. He had impressive games against rivals, making 13 tackles against Michigan State. He also made 12 tackles against Ohio State.
Becoming a Key Defender
In 2008, Obi Ezeh was the only returning starting linebacker. He became a leader for the defense. He won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award early in the season. This was after he made 15 tackles and an interception against the Utah Utes.
He also had another game with 15 tackles against the Illinois Fighting Illini. He finished the season as one of the top tacklers in the Big Ten Conference. He was recognized as an honorable mention All-Big Ten player. Obi Ezeh also won the Roger Zatkoff Award as Michigan's best linebacker.
Later Seasons and Challenges
In 2009, Obi Ezeh was one of the most experienced players on the team. He continued to make many tackles, including 14 against Michigan State. He was even named to the midseason watchlist for the Butkus Award. This award goes to the best linebacker in college football.
However, later in the 2009 season, he was removed from the starting lineup. He played less in the final four games.
In his senior year, 2010, Obi Ezeh started the first six games. He then lost his starting middle linebacker spot to another player. But he still contributed to the team. When a teammate was injured, Obi Ezeh stepped in. He recorded his first sack of the season and made eight tackles in that game.
Professional Football Career
After his college career, Obi Ezeh hoped to play in the NFL. He entered the 2011 NFL Draft but was not chosen by any team.
However, he later signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent. This means a team signed him even though he wasn't drafted. He was with the Redskins for a short time before being released.
Personal Life
Obi Ezeh was the son of Pius and Nkechy Ezeh. He had four siblings: Onyinye, Kaka, Nnenna, and Nicole. Obi Ezeh passed away on May 5, 2024, at the age of 36.
Images for kids
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Ezeh led the 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team onto the field (above September 26 and below September 5)
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Defensive unit for the 2010 Wolverines vs. the 2010 Connecticut Huskies (including #32 Jordan Kovacs, #8 Jonas Mouton, #45 Ezeh, #68 Mike Martin and #88 Craig Roh
