Isaiah Ekejiuba

Isaiah Ekejiuba LBTeam RosterPosition LBHeight 6-4Weight 240Birthdate 10/05/1982Hometown Somerset, NJGlove Hand RightRoster Status Team RosterCollege VirginiaDrafted NFL Exp 4Raiders Exp Acquired FA-05Injury Status Active Infobox NFLactive
name=Isaiah Ekejiuba


currentteam=Oakland Raiders
currentnumber=50
currentposition=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|10|5
birthplace=Nigeria
heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=240
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Oakland Raiders
college=Virginia
undraftedyear=2005
pastteams=
* Arizona Cardinals (2005)*
* Oakland Raiders (2005-present):*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status=Active
highlights=
* George Welsh Award (2004)
nfl=EKE160287

Isaiah Afamefuna Ekejiuba [Eck-ah-ju-buh] (born October 5, 1981 in Nigeria) is an American football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Virginia.

Early years

Ekejiuba was born in Nigeria and lived throughout parts of Africa, China and London while his mother worked for the United Nations, before moving to upstate New York where his mother taught at Colgate University. [ [http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=472 Oakland Raiders - Isaiah Ekejiuba ] ] Isaiah attended high school at Suffield Academy, a boarding school in Connecticut. At Suffield, Isaiah never played football, but did excel in soccer, basketball and track.

College career

In 2002, Isaiah joined the Virginia Cavaliers in the NCAA. [ [http://virginiasports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ekejiuba_isaiah00.html CSTV.com: #1 in College Sports ] ]

Isaiah was on the Virginia Cavaliers's roster in the 2003 season and played as a wide receiver, but did not play in whole season.

Prior to the 2003 season, he switched his position to linebacker. Leading the special teams, Isaiah was awarded a scholarship prior to the start of the season. He played on the punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return units.

tatistics

Professional career

Arizona Cardinals

After going undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft, Ekejiuba signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He spent training camp with the team but was release before the regular season.

Oakland Raiders

On September 6, 2005, Ekejiuba was signed to the practice squad of the Oakland Raiders. He spent the first seven weeks of the season there before being promoted to the active roster on October 28.

A restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason, Ekejiuba was tendered a one-year contract by the Raiders. He was re-signed on April 14.

Career statistics

Personal

Ekejiuba was the son of the late Felicia Ekejiuba. Isaiah has two brothers, Ben Umzurike and Sam Ekejiuba, and two sisters, Ada Umzurike and Felicia Ekejiuba. At the University of Virginia, he majored in Electrical Engineering.

References

External links

* [http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=472 Oakland Raiders bio]
* [http://virginiasports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ekejiuba_isaiah00.html Virginia Cavaliers bio]