Draft Update: Risks of BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah

Brigham Young DE Ezekiel Ansah has gone from a young
college student who couldn't put shoulder pads on, to a
future millionaire in the NFL.
Picture Courtesy: fannation.com

We all know that Americans love great underdog stories that sports have to offer, but when it comes to risking a top five pick for a story, what is worth it? Brigham Young defensive end, Ezekiel Ansah has quite the story to go with his outstanding draft stock in tonight's NFL draft. Ansah grew up in Accra, Ghana playing soccer and pickup basketball games. He had never seen an American football game.

After Ansah was baptized at age 18, he was introduced to a Mormon missionary from the United States. At the time, Ansah was serious about playing basketball in the United States. When the missionary returned to the United States, he called Ansah and told him to try out at Brigham Young University to play basketball. Ansah applied to BYU, and was accepted.

Ezekiel Ansah tried out for both the 2008 and 2009 Cougar basketball teams, but was cut each time. Despite being cut twice, he didn't give up on sports. He was persuaded to try out for the football team at BYU, and began playing during the 2010 season. After the football season, Ansah also successfully walked on to the track team at BYU and ran a successful 10.91 100 meter dash. Perhaps the explosiveness is a reason for his draft stock being so high.

Ansah has went from a kid who couldn't even put his shoulder pads on the correct way, to a future mutli-millionaire as an NFL player. Maybe it's just me, but do we really expect Ansah to stay durable for sixteen straight games with playoffs as a possibility? I doubt it. You don't come from playing football for the first time to an absolutely superstar, but so far, so good for Ziggy Ansah.

The six-foot, five-inch, 270 lb. African Superstar is staring a top five pick straight in the face as the draft begins tonight. There are several possible landing spots for Ansah, including the Jacksonville Jaguars with the second overall pick, Oakland Raiders at third overall, and the hometown Detroit Lions at fifth overall.