Christopher Ezeala

Christopher Nwabuisi Ezeala (born September 19, 1995) is a former German-French professional gridiron football defensive lineman who played in one season for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Baltimore Ravens as part of the International Player Pathway Program in 2018.

Christopher Ezeala
Personal information
Born: (1995-09-19) September 19, 1995
Munich, Germany
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
Position:Fullback
CFL Draft:2021G / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career CFL statistics
Games played:11
Player stats at CFL.ca

Biography

In his youth Ezeala played for the Feldkirchen Lions, München Rangers and as an adult for the Ingolstadt Dukes and the Allgäu Comets in the German Football League. He played mostly as a linebacker, but also as a defensive end and running back.[1]

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

For his achievements in the national league he was selected for the International Player Pathway Program in 2018 of the National Football League and trained three months at IMG Academy in Florida, where he switched to the fullback position. From there he was allocated to the Baltimore Ravens.[2][3]

After he played all five preseason games of the 2018 NFL season he signed a future/reserve contract for one year.[4][5] Again in the 2019 NFL preseason he played in all four games,[6] but didn't made the 53-man final roster. Instead he was placed on the practice squad with the additional international spot.[7] Starting the 2020 NFL season his future/reserve contract wasn't extended, which made him free agent.[8]

Cologne Centurions

In April 2021, he was signed by the Cologne Centurions from the newly formed European League of Football.[9] In the first game of the 2021 season Ezeala scored a touchdown before he was injured in the 3rd quarter. The Centurions lost 39:55 against the Panthers Wrocław.[10] Due to further injuries in the defense of the centurions he played linebacker and defensive end again. After three games he was released by the team due to personal reasons.[11]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Also in April 2021, Ezeala was drafted in the first round of the 2021 CFL Global Draft from the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League.[12][13] After he left the Centurions in July, he traveled at the end of August to Regina and play on the practice squad of the Roughriders first.[14] In the 2021 Saskatchewan Roughriders season, he played in eleven games as a fullback and defensive lineman.

Retirement

Before the 2022 CFL season, he announced his retirement from professional football.[15]

References
  1. "Baltimore Ravens Media Guide Bio" (PDF). BaltimoreRavens.com. February 26, 2022.
  2. Marco Kieferl (March 29, 2018). "Christopher Ezeala im Interview: "Sie versuchen, mit mir einen neuen Spielertypen zu erschaffen"". ran.de (in German).
  3. Emily Giambalvo (August 3, 2018). "From the German Football League, Christopher Ezeala embraces dream of playing with Ravens". The Washington Post.
  4. "NFL: Baltimore Ravens geben Christopher Ezeala Future Contract". Spox.com (in German). January 9, 2019.
  5. "Contract breakdown". Spotrac.com. August 19, 2018.
  6. "NFL Gamelog: Christopher Ezeala". NFL.com. September 2, 2019.
  7. @Ravens (September 1, 2019). "We have made the following additions to the practice squad" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. Brown, Clifton (January 13, 2020). "Ravens sign nine players to future contracts". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  9. "European League of Football: Köln Centurions verpflichten Christopher Ezeala". ran.de (in German). April 1, 2021.
  10. "GAME REPORT: WROCLAW PANTHERS VS. COLOGNE CENTURIONS". EuropeanLeague.Football. June 20, 2021.
  11. "ELF: Saisonaus! Christopher Ezeala verlässt die Cologne Centurions aus familiären Gründen". ran.de (in German). July 7, 2021.
  12. "CFL Global Draft: Christopher Ezeala in Runde eins an Nummer 5 gepickt". ran.de (in German). April 15, 2021.
  13. Murray McCormick (April 15, 2021). "Saskatchewan Roughriders select Christopher Ezeala in CFL's Global draft". leaderpost.com.
  14. JC Abbot (September 1, 2021). "Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed top Global draft pick Chris Ezeala". AmericanFootballInternational.com.
  15. Taylor Shire (May 9, 2022). "@GlobalRegina - Retirement announcement". twitter.com.
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