Ezekiel Ansah
Ezekiel Ansah was born in Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana on May 29th, 1989 and is the Football Player. At the age of 35, Ezekiel Ansah biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 35 years old, Ezekiel Ansah has this physical status:
Ezekiel Nana "Ziggy" Ansah, a Ghana-born American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), was born May 29, 1989.
In the 2013 NFL Draft, he was drafted fifth overall by the Detroit Lions.
He played college football at Brigham Young University.
Early years
Ansah grew up playing soccer and had never seen American football as a youth. Ansah was also a huge basketball fan in addition to soccer. He played pickup basketball at Golden Sunbeam Montessori School, where he went from 4th grade to 9th grade. He developed his basketball skills and abilities on a field that Forever Young Foundation had a donation from the Forever Young Foundation (Steve Young). Ansah spent time on the Golden Sunbeam basketball team and became the most valuable player on the team, leading his team to win numerous games. Because of the school's basketball facility, basketball enthusiasts, including missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were attracted by the school's basketball facility (LDS Church). Ansah formed a friendship with a missionary while playing basketball games with missionaries and students. Ansah was later baptized a member of the congregation at the age of 18. After returning to Ansah, a missionary who taught and baptized Ansah kept in touch with Ansah. Ansah should attend Brigham Young University and try out for the basketball team if he was serious about basketball, according to the missionary later.
In 2004, Ansah joined the Presbyterian Boys' Senior Secondary School in Legon. He worked in finance and studied marketing. Ansah was very involved in sports during his time at the academy, playing a vital part in the basketball team while still participating in track and field sports. During his time in high school, he was a member of Kwansa House. In June 2007, he graduated from high school and returned to Golden Sunbeam as a teaching assistant, where he taught the students in basketball in his spare time.
The Golden Sunbeam basketball team won many tournaments while competing in Ghana's international schools under Ansah's leadership. Ansah had 7 A's and a B in his business program when the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results became public.
Personal life
Ansah is the youngest of five children. Edward Edward's father, Edward, was a petroleum company's sales manager, and Elizabeth, his mother, was a nurse. Ansah is a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During the 2012 season, Ansah was assigned to a room with Kyle Van Noy, a well-known linebacker. Both on and off the field, the two teams have forged a strong partnership. "Kyle is like a brother to me," Ansah said in a Sports Illustrated interview. Ansah spent several years as a custodian in order to pay his tuition (he left working after he was given a scholarship his senior year).
College career
Ansah applied to and was accepted at Brigham Young University with the help and encouragement of his mentor, former ICT teacher and mentor Alma Ohene Opare, who was studying at BYU at the time. Ansah's academic achievements enabled him to be granted an academic scholarship in 2008. Alma Ohene Opare and later Ken Frei were instrumental in Ansah's integration and culture in a new world. Ansah attempted to play for the BYU Cougars men's basketball team twice, but the team was cut from both the 2008 and 2009 teams.
Ansah ran in the 100 meters in comparison to a time of 21.89 seconds in the 200 meters, despite being rejected in basketball. Finally, Ansah was persuaded to try out for the BYU Cougars football team, successfully walked on and competed for the Cougars from 2010 to 2012.
Ansah had to be instructed in the most basic rules and techniques, even though he needed assistance getting on his pads for the first time. Ansah made his first collegiate appearance in the Cougars' game against Wyoming, where he made his first tackle. He appeared in six games on special teams and the defensive line during the 2010 season, totaling three tackles and a pass breakup.
Ansah's third year in school, but only in his third year of eligibility. He appeared on third downs as a defensive end or outside linebacker, totaling seven tackles for the season.
Ansah re-insisting as a situation player for the 2012 season. However, noseguard Eathyn Manumaleuna injured his knee and Ansah took his place in week four. Ansah was third on the team in tackles (48), second in sacks (4.5) and first in tackles for loss (13).
The BYU Cougars led the nation in red zone defense (allowing 26.33 yards/game), second in third down conversion percentage (27.71%) and fifth in scoring defense (176 total points) for the 2012 season. In addition, they were in the top 25 in passing defense (13th), quarterback sacks (22nd), fourth down conversion defense (23rd), and tackles for loss (25th).
Professional career
Ansah was not found on any of the 2012 preseason mock drafts for the 2013 NFL draft. He had gone from unlisted to the late-first or early second round of the draft by mid-season, according to several analysts, who rated him as the sleeper pick of the draft. Ansah's "outstanding defensive player" outing in the 2013 Senior Bowl, with seven tackles (six solo), 1.5 tackles (for 13 yards), 3.5 tackles for loss (for 24 yards), and a forced fumble.
Reports of doubting Ansah's age began in March 2013. However, his passport confirms he was born on May 29, 1989.
Analysts and scouts had hoped Ansah to be a first round draft pick and was a consensus top ten pick coming out of college. By NFLDraftScout.com, he was ranked as the top defensive end and the seventh best player. Despite being thought of as a raw talent with no stamina, his large frame, youth, athletic ability, perseverance, and incredible foot speed made some believe he was too valuable to be passed on.
The Detroit Lions selected Ansah in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, with the fifth overall pick. On May 10, 2013, the Detroit Lions signed him to a fully guaranteed four-year, $18.59 million deal with a signing bonus of $11.90 million.
He arrived in training camp to be the right starting defensive end. Ansah intercepted Mark Sanchez and returned the ball 14 yards for the first score of the season in the first week of the preseason. After his growth was stifled due to a head injury suffered in practice, head coach Jim Schwartz named him the backup right defensive end behind Willie Young to begin the regular season.
In a 34–24 victory, he made three combined tackles and was credited with half a sack on Christian Ponder in his rookie season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Ansah's first career appearance came on September 22, 2013 after Jason Jones was put on injured reserve for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. In a 27-20 victory over the Washington Redskins, he made a season-high seven combined tackles and suspended Robert Griffin III twice, one causing a fumble. Since missing the previous two games due to an ankle injury, he returned in Week 12. As the Lions lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-20, Mike Glennon made two solo tackles and fired him twice. In a 40–10 win over the Green Bay Packers this week, Matt Flynn made three solo tackles and two sacks on him.
Ansah's rookie season saw 32 combined tackles, 8 sacks, 2 forcible fumbles, and a pass deflection in 14 games and 12 starts. His eight sacks led all NFL rookies and ranked second in Lions' rookie history. He was named the Mel Farr Rookie of the Year, recognizing the Detroit Lions' most outstanding rookie.
He came back as the right defensive end in 2014 and was named the starting defensive end by new head coach Jim Caldwell to begin the regular season. Eli Manning was credited with half a sack in the season opener against the New York Giants in a 35-14 victory. The Detroit Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 17-3 on October 12, 2014, Ansah made five combined tackles and was credited with a season-high 2.5 sacks on Teddy Bridgewater. In a 20-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins, he posted a season-high six solo tackles and had one sack on Ryan Tannehill. Ansah's second season was a success with 49 combined tackles, 712 sacks, and three sacks, as well as three fumbles in 16 games and 16 starts.
In a 24-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on January 4, 2015, Ansah started his first career playoff game with two solo tackles and a sack on Tony Romo.
In a 33-28 loss, he started the Lions season opener against the San Diego Chargers with two solo tackles and a sack on Philip Rivers. In a 26-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Ansah recorded a season-high seven solo tackles and a sack. As the Lions defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 45-14 on November 26, 2015, he finished with four combined tackles and was credited with a season-high 3 sacks on Mark Sanchez.
Ansah recorded 47 combined tackles, 1412 tackles, 4 forcible fumbles, and a pass deflection in 16 games and 16 starts in the 2015 season. With 1412 sacks (J. Watt 1712 and Khalil Mack 151) and Michael Gay (1612 sacks in 1983) and second-most sacks in a season by a Lions defensive player since 1982, trailing only Robert Porcher (15.0) set in 1999. For the first time in his career, Ansah was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. In a 49-27 victory over Team Irvin on January 31, 2016, Ansah was ranked 43rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
The Detroit Lions tried the fifth-year deal on Ansah's rookie deal, which paid him $7.53 million for 2017.
In a 39-35 victory, he began the Lions season opener against the Indianapolis Colts and made two combined tackles. On the second play of the game against the Tennessee Titans, Ansah sustained his ankle and missed the next three games. Ansah recorded a season-high five solo tackles in a Week 9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. On December 18, 2016, he had five combined tackles, including sacking Eli Manning for Ansah's first dismissal of the season. He had 35 combined tackles and two sacks in 13 starts in his season. The two firings marked a drastic decrease from the 14.5 he posted last year.
The Detroit Lions completed the year 9–7 and clinched a wild card spot. Ansah made five combined tackles and sacked Russell Wilson twice during the Seattle Seahawks' wild card game, but the Lions lost 26–6.
Ansah defeated the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, with three sacks and six tackles. Ansah ended the season with 12 sacks, a significant increase over the two sacks he had in 2016. On three separate occasions, he had 3 sacks in one game, making him the first Lion to do so. In Week 17, Ansah defeated the Packers 35-11, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
The Lions branded Ansah, which cost him $17.5 million in 2018. Ansah missed the next six games before returning in Week 9 after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 1. He played in the next six games before re-aggravating the shoulder injury in Week 14. On December 11, 2018, he was put on injured reserve and was put on the disabled reserve.
Ansah and the Seattle Seahawks announced on May 9, 2019, a one-year, $9 million contract. Ansah suffered with nagging injuries once more and only received 2.5 sacks as a team's situational pass rusher.
Ansah signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on September 23, 2020. In Week 4, he suffered a torn biceps and was put on season-ending injured reserve.