Erik Ezukanma – April 30, 2022
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Saturday, April 30, 2022
WR Erik Ezukanma
(I just first wanted to ask how much conversation did you have with the Dolphins in the pre-draft process and did you get a feeling that you might be picked by them?) – “Throughout the process, Miami did show a lot of interest and I had a formal (interview) with them at the NFL Combine. That’s where I got this hat. They just showed love throughout the process and for them to pick a spot with me, it was big.”
(My question to you is how does it feel coming to Miami with a loaded wide receiver group such as WR Tyreek Hill and WR Jaylen Waddle, to learn from them for your first year and working with the wide receiver group?) – “It’s going to be a big opportunity. You’ve got a guy like Tyreek Hill who’s done it for a long time. Jaylen Waddle being a rookie last year and putting the numbers he put up, it’s going to be a great opportunity to learn from them and take notes and learn from Wes (Welker) as well. Him being able to coach the guys up and just take a lot in and be a sponge and take a lot of notes and watch a lot of film.”
(I wanted to ask you a little bit more – you just mentioned Wes Welker – how much contact have you had with him? How familiar are you with his background?) – “Oh, you know, he’s a Red Raider. He’s Red Raider blood just like me, so a lot of contact throughout the process and with Wes Welker taking a chance on me and the Miami franchise, I appreciate them so much and I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m ready just to work.”
(How do you describe your style?) – “Play style?”
(Yes.) – “I’m a versatile guy. I feel like I can fit in right where Jaylen Waddle – the way he can take the ball out of the backfield as well as be a deep threat down the field, but also just a versatile guy with RAC ability and YAC ability – yards after contact and run after the catch. You can put me anywhere on the field and I feel like I can help the team in any situation.”
(I saw that you were a captain as a freshman at Texas Tech. Just wanted to ask you about the importance of kind of the leadership role and being a good locker room guy.) – “Man, the locker room is everything because that’s really where the team collaborates and works together outside of the coaches. And you know, you want to be a player-led program. You want guys in the locker room to uplift each other, not be one of those guys that brings each other down. I’m willing to go in there, learn my role with the team and as I gradually get up in the ranks, earn my respect; I feel like I can hop into that leadership role.”
(Forgive me for not knowing this, but how much special teams, if at all, have you played over your career in college?) – “Yes, sir. I did a lot of front line kickoff return. I was blocking a lot in the front line either in the center or the edge. I did a lot of gunner as well. Also kind of kickoff, the edge guy at No. 9 or 10 coming off the edge, being the fold player.”
(I’ve always wondered what it was like to be a gunner. When you did that, what was your approach?) – “It was kind of just like being a receiver, getting off the line and running as fast as you can down the field before the punt returner catches the ball. If that’s what they need me to do, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it on the roster.”
(I saw you’re 6’2”, a bigger receiver, bigger body. What do you think about your ability to make contested catches? Is that an area that you like about your game?) – “That’s one of my strong suits. I feel like throughout my career I’ve really worked on contested catches, bang-bang plays. I feel like in the beginning of my career at Tech, that was one of the places I struggled at, but I gained more confidence with that and just getting bigger in the weight room, buying into the weight room and being able to make those contested catches even if a defender is on my back or hitting me at the same time. So I feel like that’s one of my high points of my game.”
(One of seven children, single mother supporting you guys as a nurse. I just wanted to ask you about the impact your mom had in your life?) – “She is really the reason why I’m sitting right here today. I really believe that because I’ve watched her grind every day working nights – 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the morning and going right back to it. Growing up I had to grow up fast. Being the older brother and little brother at the same time, I had to get them out of the house and go to school and I also had to go to school myself. It was growing up really fast. I feel like without her, I couldn’t have watched her work ethic and watch her grind. I feel like all of that grinding is instilled in me. I feel like that’s why I’m here right now.”
(Just because of the last name, is there any African heritage in there because I’m Nigerian myself, so I had to ask.) – “Nigerian, yes sir. I’m Nigerian. I’ve never been to Nigeria, so I hope to make that trip out there. I have a lot of siblings, so my mom really hasn’t been able to get us out there. But I definitely want to get out there and get with some relatives.”
(I wanted to ask you about head coach Mike McDaniel. We’re all enjoying getting to know him. I’m wondering what your impressions of this guy was when you talked to him.) – “Man, great guy. I feel like I really haven’t got to know him yet. I want to really get to know him because that’s going to be my head coach and with that, I want to learn from him, ask him a lot of questions, get with the staff and really just have them pour into me and be that guy that they can trust.”
(I found your logo on the interweb – the EE with the lightning bolt. Did you choose the lightning bolt? Was that your design? And if so, why?) – “The lightning bolt is also considered a Z in the logo – EZE. The lightning bolt is to express my speed, how explosive I am, the way I play ball. It’s just a representation of me and the way I play. Just a little cool design that I thought was nice. We put it on some t-shirts and things.”
(I have to ask you about your connection to Patrick Mahomes. I believe you trained with him and maybe received some words of encouragement and advice. What can you tell us about that?) – “It was a cool experience. I went out to the place he works out at and worked out twice actually. The first time I went over there and we worked out, he was very encouraging. He was letting me know the grind doesn’t stop here. Basically you’re going to get drafted and you’re going to be grinding until the next offseason, and with that, you got to stay hungry and be the first one into the film room and have a note or pen whenever you’re learning anything. And just be a sponge throughout the process because they are looking for that and they want to see you be the first in line in every situation.”
(What excites you about getting to know and getting to play with QB Tua Tagovailoa?) – “I watched Tua in the national championship when I was a kid a couple of years ago, just hoping to be in that same situation as him. To watch him grow in the NFL and learn, obviously it’s going to be an experience. I want to come in and get with him as soon as possible and run as many routes as he wants me to run just to get that chemistry going and that friendship going.”
