With free agency ongoing, the Indianapolis Colts under general manager Chris Ballard have deviated from recent norms. The team was active early on and worked to add pieces to a developing roster. Under these new additions is Samson Ebukam, former defensive end of the 49ers.
The team Ebukam signed a rare three-year deal valued at up to $27 million. Ebukam’s exact role remains unknown but he could be a replacement for current internal free agent Yannick Ngakoue.
Let’s take a look at five things to know about the Colts’ new edge rusher:
He has Nigerian roots
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Nnamaka (“Nnn-Nam-a-ka”) was Samson Ebukam (“Eh-Boo-kahm”) born May 9, 1995 to Tobis and Stella Ebukam in Onitsha, Nigeria. Ebukam is the youngest of seven children and spent the first nine years of his life in Nigeria.
His hometown of Onitsha has a population of over seven million people and is home to Onitsha’s main market, which according to several reports is the largest market in Africa.
Football is not his first sport
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Ebukam moved to Oregon as a child to join his father and siblings in America. Transitioning to the US was difficult at the time, and Ebukam got into arguments while learning English and play soccer.
His physical nature earned him numerous red cards. However, a local coach noticed his raw skills and suggested Ebukam American Football. He also used these skills to play basketball and track and field.
He played three positions in high school
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Ebukam’s natural physicality and explosiveness helped him transition into football. Manager Dan Wood has pushed Ebukam to play to his full potential and given him the flexibility to play multiple positions.
Ebukam played at fullback, tight end and defensive end and was awarded first-team All-Mount Hood Conference honors. His efforts also earned him an honorable mention as a tight end.
Two NFL teams helped him on his journey
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After attending Eastern Washington University, Ebukam was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He made two starts in his rookie season and his debut career forced fumbling and sacking was against another divisional rival, the Houston Texans.
Ebukam played 64 games for the Rams and recorded 150 tackles, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.
Printing is his specialty
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The Colts will see Ebukam under pressure to generate the same amount of sacks (9.5) that Yannick Ngakoue delivered last season. However, he has consistently had nearly five sacks and had one in the past four seasons 14.8% print rate in 2022.
Ebukam excels in passing scenarios, and if he’s the answer to replacing Ngakoue, he’ll feel right at home in Gus Bradley’s plan. It is similar to what he saw in San Francisco.
Source : sports.yahoo.com