, Michigan — In the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected Josiah Ezirim, an offensive lineman from EKU, with the 239th overall choice.
One of the nicest feelings in the world, this is,” Ezirim remarked. “To accomplish something that you worked on your whole life is something that you could not even dream of experiencing,” Ezirim stated.
Ezirim is the 34th and final colonel to be drafted in history, having not been selected since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Noah Spence in 2016.
Walt Wells, the head coach at EKU, described it as “just something that is really exciting.” “I’m overjoyed for Josiah and his whole family. His accomplishment is amazing, and I am much more proud of him than he is. Josiah has been a pleasure and an honor to coach, and this kind of success is what coaches strive for and what we do at EKU.”
When donning the Maroon and White, the native of Hilliard, Ohio, amassed a long record of achievements, especially during his final season.
With an average of 437.4 yards per game, Ezirim helped the Colonels become the conference’s best offense in 2023 by starting every game for the team. With an average of 29.5 points per game and 37 touchdowns, they finished the season with 4,811 yards.
In addition to being chosen for the first team All-UAC and being named Phil Steele’s UAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, his on-field exploits garnered him choices to the All-American team by five other magazines.
Since Mike Cadore was picked by the Saints in 1989 and Junior Hardin in 1976, Ezirim is the third Colonel to have done so.