 Ezeh attempts to shoestring tackle Beanie Wells during the 2008 Michigan – Ohio State rivalry game. | |
| No. 92 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | February 2, 1988 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died: | May 3, 2024 (aged 36) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| 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 | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Obi Pius Ezeh (February 2, 1988 – May 3, 2024) was an American college football player who was a linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines. He was included on both the 2009 mid-season and the 2009 preseason watchlist for the Butkus Award.[1][2] He ended his career as the Wolverines' active career leader in tackles.[3]
In high school, he played running back on offense more regularly than linebacker on defense. He shared running back duties as a sophomore and junior before becoming the starting running back as a senior at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He established his school career rushing record of nearly 3,000 yards. As a senior, he scored a two-point conversion to give his school a one-point victory and a berth in the 2005 Michigan High School Athletic Association state championship game at Ford Field. He was also a member of a three-time state champion high school rugby team and was invited to try out with the United States national rugby union team.
At Michigan, he redshirted as a true freshman. Then, as a redshirt freshman for the 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team, he battled for the starting middle linebacker position and appeared to have lost the position early in the season. However, after an injury he became a regular starter. He concluded the season with thirteen and twelve tackle efforts against bitter rivals Michigan State and Ohio State, respectively. He started his redshirt sophomore season with a Big Ten Conference defensive player of the week, fifteen-tackle effort for the 2008 Michigan Wolverines football team. He finished the season as an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection. Just after earning 2009 midseason Butkus Award watchlist recognition, he was removed from the starting lineup and saw limited action in the final four games.
After his senior season in 2010, Ezeh declared for the 2011 NFL Draft, where he went undrafted. He later signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins.
- ^ "Big Ten Weekly Football Release - Oct. 19: Big Ten Leads All Conferences With Nine Teams Boasting Winning Records Through First Seven Weeks". CBS Interactive. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
- ^ "Big Ten | Football Weekly | Release September 7, 2009" (PDF). Big Ten Conference. September 7, 2009. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
- ^ "45 Obi Ezeh". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
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