Erik Ezukanma

American football player (born 2000)

American football player

Erik Ezukanma

No. 18 – Miami Dolphins

Position:

Wide receiver

Personal information

Born:

(2000-01-25) January 25, 2000 (age 24)
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

Miami Dolphins (2022–present)

Roster status:

Active

Career highlights and awards

First-team All-Big 12 (2020)
Second-team All-Big 12 (2021)

Career NFL statistics as of 2023

Receptions:	1
Receiving yards:	3

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.

Early years

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 Conference.^[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]

Statistics

Season	Team	GP	Receiving				Rushing
Season	Team	GP	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

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