Ebenezer Ekuban
Encyclopedia
Ebenezer Ekuban, Jr. is an American football
defensive end
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted
by the Dallas Cowboys
20th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at North Carolina
.
in Bladensburg, Maryland
. Ebenezer, a high school honor student, soon became a standout player due to his size, strength, speed, and intelligence, which led to a scholarship from the University of North Carolina.
While at North Carolina, Tar Heel head coach Mack Brown
(now Head coach at the University of Texas) moved Ekuban from tight end to defensive end.
in the 1999 NFL draft. He later joined Cleveland as a free agent
in 2004.
He is currently a defensive end
with the Denver Broncos
, who acquired him, along with defensive lineman Michael Myers
, in 2005 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns
for running back
Reuben Droughns
. Along with the team coincidentally signing Courtney Brown as well as acquiring Gerard Warren in a separate trade with Cleveland, the media referred to the Broncos defensive line as the "Browncos", since all four of their starters were with the Browns the year before.
Ekuban missed the entire 2007 season due to tearing his right Achilles' tendon in a Broncos' preseason game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Broncos re-signed Ekuban to a one-year, 3.12 million contract and to battle teammates Jarvis Moss
and John Engelberger
for the starting job at left end. As of the 2008 season, Ekuban was the last remaining "Brownco" with the team, as Gerard Warren was traded to the rival Oakland Raiders
the year before and Courtney Brown and Michael Myers are now out of football. Ekuban finished the season with 5 sacks and 38 tackles in 10 starts.
New Broncos coach Josh McDaniels
and new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan
are changing the Broncos base defense to a 3-4 alignment, so they decided not to resign Ekuban since he is not big enough to be a 3-4 defensive end, but not fast enough to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. In March 2009, Ekuban reportedly visited with the Oakland Raiders
and as a potential replacement for Kalimba Edwards
as a situational pass rusher off the bench. However, as of September 19, 2009 he was still unsigned.
In the Fall 2010, Ekuban assisted the football staff at Regis Jesuit High School
in Aurora, Colorado as an Assistant Coach.
Ekuban currently assists the Denver Broncos Football Club as an assistant in their Player Development Department.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
20th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
.
Early years
Ekuban started playing football his junior year of high school as a tight end and defensive lineman for Bladensburg High SchoolBladensburg High School
Bladensburg High School is a secondary school located in Bladensburg, Maryland.The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district....
in Bladensburg, Maryland
Bladensburg, Maryland
Bladensburg is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 7,661 at the 2000 census.Bladensburg is from central Washington, DC...
. Ebenezer, a high school honor student, soon became a standout player due to his size, strength, speed, and intelligence, which led to a scholarship from the University of North Carolina.
While at North Carolina, Tar Heel head coach Mack Brown
Mack Brown
William Mack Brown is head coach of The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn football team.Prior to his head coach position at Texas, Brown was head coach at Appalachian State, Tulane, and North Carolina. Brown is credited with revitalizing the Texas and North Carolina football programs...
(now Head coach at the University of Texas) moved Ekuban from tight end to defensive end.
Professional career
Ekuban was a first-round draft pick by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the 1999 NFL draft. He later joined Cleveland as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2004.
He is currently a defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who acquired him, along with defensive lineman Michael Myers
Michael Myers (American football)
Michael Myers is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He played college football at the University of Alabama.-High school years:...
, in 2005 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Reuben Droughns
Reuben Droughns
Reuben Droughns is an American football running back who is currently the head coach for the Serbian team Vukovi Beograd, the two-time champions of the Central European Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
. Along with the team coincidentally signing Courtney Brown as well as acquiring Gerard Warren in a separate trade with Cleveland, the media referred to the Broncos defensive line as the "Browncos", since all four of their starters were with the Browns the year before.
Ekuban missed the entire 2007 season due to tearing his right Achilles' tendon in a Broncos' preseason game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Broncos re-signed Ekuban to a one-year, 3.12 million contract and to battle teammates Jarvis Moss
Jarvis Moss
Jarvis Jaray Moss is an American football defensive end for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . Moss was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Florida Gators.-High school career:Moss was born in Denton, Texas...
and John Engelberger
John Engelberger
John Albert Engelberger is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech...
for the starting job at left end. As of the 2008 season, Ekuban was the last remaining "Brownco" with the team, as Gerard Warren was traded to the rival Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
the year before and Courtney Brown and Michael Myers are now out of football. Ekuban finished the season with 5 sacks and 38 tackles in 10 starts.
New Broncos coach Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels is the former head coach of the Denver Broncos and currently the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams. He previously served as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots...
and new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan is an American football coach and the current defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins...
are changing the Broncos base defense to a 3-4 alignment, so they decided not to resign Ekuban since he is not big enough to be a 3-4 defensive end, but not fast enough to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. In March 2009, Ekuban reportedly visited with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and as a potential replacement for Kalimba Edwards
Kalimba Edwards
Kalimba Edwards is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.Edwards has also played for the Oakland Raiders.-College career:Edwards played...
as a situational pass rusher off the bench. However, as of September 19, 2009 he was still unsigned.
In the Fall 2010, Ekuban assisted the football staff at Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School is a Jesuit Catholic college preparatory high school located in Aurora, Colorado. Founded in 1877, the high school shares much of its history with its counterpart Regis University in neighboring Denver, Colorado....
in Aurora, Colorado as an Assistant Coach.
Ekuban currently assists the Denver Broncos Football Club as an assistant in their Player Development Department.