Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Don Vito · 10-01-2012, 10:25 AM

Is anyone familiar this guy? Incredibly raw and new to football, but is a freak. Listed at 6-6 265 and is an amazing athlete. Van Noy gets a lot of credit on the BYU DL and rightfully so, but Ansah screams JPP. I know it is premature, but the correlations are pretty scary. Ansah moved from Ghana a few years ago. He lined up everywhere along the front 7 from linebacker to nose tackle against Hawaii. Keep an eye on him, could be this years prospect who comes out of nowhere.

TACKLE · 10-01-2012, 11:00 AM

I just watched a video of this guy and I think you may be onto something here Vito. They have him playing inside mostly but you can see he's clearly pure 4-3 DE type. Still, I expected him to be a little lost, a little uncoordinated but he actually looked really good. Very active, strong, and uses his hands surprisingly well. The athleticism pops as well. Definitely will be keeping close tabs on him.

YAYareaRB · 10-01-2012, 11:22 AM

Walked right into Coach Mendenhalls office and told him he wanted to play. Atheticism is there, when he develops pass rushing moves, EZ will be insane!

TACKLE · 10-01-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YAYareaRB

Walked right into Coach Mendenhalls office and told him he wanted to play. Atheticism is there, when he develops pass rushing moves, EZ will be insane!

For being as 'raw' as he is, he sure uses his hands well in disengaging. It'd be nice to see him get a few more reps rushing off the edge though just from an evaluation standpoint.

YAYareaRB · 10-01-2012, 11:41 AM

He does have a good D Line coach in Steve Kaufusi but youre right, if they had more depth in the trenches, we would probably see more of him at OLB.

no bare feet · 10-01-2012, 12:50 PM

He is raw in terms of playing the game of footbal but some parts of his game are well beyond his years. He could be a 1st rounder if he blows up in the pre-draft process.

Ozzy · 10-01-2012, 09:18 PM

Brought him up week 3 after seeing him week one for the first time.

http://draftcountdown.com/forum/show...t=53691&page=2

And I agree, kid is so raw and has so little football experience the upside is crazy. A that size, he is going to get a strong look and could even get into the 2nd or 3rd round if he keeps playing this well. Former track athlete, obviously is in great shape and that is rare for a guy his size, if he has a constant motor his upside will make him a very high pick in the draft I think.

All he has to do is keep up this same level of play on an already solid defensive unit for BYU, one of the best in the country really all around.

Scott Wright · 10-02-2012, 03:11 AM

Someone recently sent in a tip about this guy and I jotted his name down but haven't got a chance to check him out yet. Certainly intrigued by those measurables though.

AntoinCD · 10-02-2012, 11:16 AM

The first thing that stood out to me was damn this guy can play the run. Against Boise he just stood the o-lineman up and disengaged with ease. I agree with TACKLE I'd like to see him run the arc more, however he has ridiculous functional strength and as his technique improves he could be a monster. He may fit best as a 5 tech, but he looks like he can play all over the place. Would make a real nice strongside end opposite Chandler Jones

Don Vito · 10-02-2012, 11:21 AM

http://www.deseretnews.com/m/article/765608473

According to this Ansah has been timed at 10.9 in the 100 and 21.9 in the 200. I am taking those times with a grain of salt because that is foolishly fast for someone who is 6-6 270, but this is clearly a freak here.

FUNBUNCHER · 10-02-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Vito

http://www.deseretnews.com/m/article/765608473

According to this Ansah has been timed at 10.9 in the 100 and 21.9 in the 200. I am taking those times with a grain of salt because that is foolishly fast for someone who is 6-6 270, but this is clearly a freak here.

Clearly he didn't run those times at 270#. But it does suggest that he possesses ideal athleticism for the position.
For instance, RGIII's world class times in the 110 meter hurdles were run when he was 180-190#. Griffin is @ 220# now.

YAYareaRB · 10-03-2012, 06:40 PM

He came to byu from Ghana to run track. He wasn't 270 but he wasn't far from it

Don Vito · 10-05-2012, 11:36 PM

Don't know who is watching this game, but yeah...this kid is the absolute real deal.

TACKLE · 10-05-2012, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Vito

Don't know who is watching this game, but yeah...this kid is the absolute real deal.

Tuned in just to watch him. You're right, he's legit.

y.f.s. · 10-06-2012, 12:07 AM

Soooo legit.

descendency · 10-06-2012, 01:37 AM

He's an incredible athlete, but his football form (technique and everything) is god awful.

It's really amazing he doesn't get pushed out of every play. He's literally playing on talent out there.

It's scary to think of what he could become.

Hines · 10-06-2012, 02:17 AM

Could he play 5T in your guy's opinion?

Matthew Jones · 10-06-2012, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hines

Could he play 5T in your guy's opinion?

It would take years for him to gain enough bulk for that. You can't just add 20-30 pounds in a year. Look at how BYU was using him as a rusher out of a two-point stance. He's tall and has long arms, but he looks like more of an elephant linebacker or 4-3 defensive end than a five-technique.

bored of education · 10-06-2012, 09:17 AM

He will be a first rounder.

EricCartmann · 10-06-2012, 10:49 AM

Easily early first round. That guy is a beast! I think he has the quickness to play corner! Dam dude is quick.

TACKLE · 10-06-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hines

Could he play 5T in your guy's opinion?

Based off his size and ability, he looks like your prototypical LDE to me who also has the ability to kick inside on passing downs.

Matthew Jones · 10-06-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TACKLE

Based off his size and ability, he looks like your prototypical LDE to me who also has the ability to kick inside on passing downs.

When is the last time a 270 pound player was drafted high to play five-technique for a 3-4 team though? I just looked through 15 years of draft history and couldn't find any examples. Even Cameron Jordan weighed 287 pounds and played five-technique in college and he was passed on by 3-4 teams before the Saints drafted him. I can see a 3-4 team considering him as a designated pass rusher that they move around, but not as a defensive lineman in a three-man base. He'll get drafted by a 4-3 team as a defensive end well before 3-4 teams would consider him for the same spot.

TACKLE · 10-06-2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

When is the last time a 270 pound player was drafted high to play five-technique for a 3-4 team though? I just looked through 15 years of draft history and couldn't find any examples. Even Cameron Jordan weighed 287 pounds and played five-technique in college and he was passed on by 3-4 teams before the Saints drafted him. I can see a 3-4 team considering him as a designated pass rusher that they move around, but not as a defensive lineman in a three-man base. He'll get drafted by a 4-3 team as a defensive end well before 3-4 teams would consider him for the same spot.

Whoops. By LDE, I meant in a 43. I must have accidentally edited it out when I was tweaking the wording. We're on the same page here.

y.f.s. · 10-06-2012, 02:35 PM

Got somebody working on a cutup the game from last night. Will be up in a few days probably.

PossibleCabbage · 10-06-2012, 04:18 PM

Ansah does seem like the rare prospect who looks to actually be better in an even front than an odd one (not just more valuable, better.)

You don't want to ask a guy as green as he is to play OLB, since it's a much more mentally demanding position and he's as green as seasick grass, and as Matthew Jones pointed out, he's not a good immediate fit at 5-tech.

I fully expect the Giants to draft him.