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Ezekiel Ansah | Defensive Lineman

Team: Detroit Lions
Age / DOB:  (23) / 5/29/1989
Ht / Wt:  6'5' / 271
College: BYU
Contract: view contract details
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According to the Detroit News, No. 5 pick DE Ziggy Ansah got "visibly better and more confident" every day of Lions rookie minicamp.
Ansah played right end while fourth-round pick Devin Taylor manned left. Per reporter Chris McCosky, there were times when Ansah "completely dominated the 11-on-11 drills." That's to be expected of a day-one pick at rookie minicamp, but is still a good sign for the draft's rawest elite prospect. Ansah's first true test won't come until the preseason. May 13 - 8:47 AM
Source: Detroit News

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Date:
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

Lions agreed to terms with No. 5 overall pick DE Ziggy Ansah on a four-year contract.

That makes the Lions the first team to have their entire 2013 draft class under contract. Like all first-round picks, Ansah's four-year deal includes a fifth-year team option. The deal includes no offset language. The rawest but most projectable elite talent in this year's class, Ansah is a roll of the dice for a Lions team replacing both its starting ends, but one that could pay off handsomely. A native of Ghana, Ansah had "never seen a football game" before enrolling at BYU, but came into his own as a senior, and lit up the Senior Bowl and Combine. An imposing 6-foot-5, 271 pounds, Ansah reeled off an impressive 4.63 40-yard dash. His pass-rushing potential is immense in the Lions' wide-nine scheme.
Source: detroitlions.com
May 10 - 9:46 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

Coach Jim Schwartz says the Lions didn't draft DE Ziggy Ansah "as a project."

"I think if you just looked at it from a book standpoint, I think you would have to say (he’s a project)," Schwartz said. "But I think when you watch the film and when you put your hands on him for a week (you see something different). We drafted him to be on the field for us. ... We saw everything that we needed." Despite his rawness, Ansah will be given every opportunity to nail down a starting job in camp.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Apr 26 - 8:22 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

Lions selected BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah with the No. 5 overall pick.

Ansah (6-foot-5 1/4, 271) exploded onto the national scene as a senior with 62 tackles -- 13 for a loss -- and 4.5 sacks at outside 'backer in BYU's 3-4. His stock soared in the Senior Bowl game, which Ansah single-handedly took over with 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Ansah has freak length (35 1/8-inch arms) and a 4.63 forty time. His 1.56 ten-yard split in Indy was second fastest among D-Linemen behind only Keke Mingo (1.55), who's 30 pounds lighter. With just three years of football experience, Ansah offers immense upside as a pass rusher and edge presence. With only Willie Young, Ronnell Lewis, and Jason Jones on the roster at defensive end, Ansah should see the field early. He is already a stout run defender, and once Ansah learns to create space on his own, watch out. His closing speed is excellent for the Lions' wide alignment.
Apr 25 - 8:50 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

BYU DE Ziggy Ansah said he hasn't had any contact with the Lions since the Senior Bowl.

The Lions' staff coached Ansah at the Jan. 26 Senior Bowl. Operating out of their Wide 9 scheme, he was arguably the best player on the field with seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. It's possible the Lions are just trying to cover their tracks here and pray that Ansah falls to them at No. 5. Or maybe he did something at the game to turn them off.
Related: Lions
Source: Detroit Free Press
Apr 25 - 10:25 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole says it "sounds like" the Browns are "definitely" going pass rusher with their first-round pick.

Colleague Mike Silver adds that the Browns could trade up to the Raiders' No. 3 spot, and he believes the target is BYU's Ezekiel Ansah. The Eagles at No. 4 and the Lions at No. 5 are also likely eyeing pass rushers if one of the top offensive tackles doesn't make it to them, so the jump up to No. 3 for the Browns could be a necessary move to ensure they get who they want. Ansah could play end or outside linebacker in the 3-4.
Related: Browns
Source: Jason Cole on Twitter
Apr 24 - 9:30 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

At least one NFL GM believes the 49ers are interested in moving up to No. 13 or 14 in the draft.

The 49ers have a league-high 13 picks and no more than seven or eight would be serious bets to make one of the NFL's best rosters. The Niners are likely to ship off later-round picks for 2014 selections while also attempting to trade up in the first round. They've been mentioned as a pursuer of West Virginia's Tavon Austin, but Yahoo's Jason Cole reports San Francisco "would like to get a defensive lineman who can eventually step in for veteran Justin Smith." BYU's Ziggy Ansah would be a high-upside addition in the first half of round one.
Related: 49ers
Source: Yahoo Sports
Apr 21 - 6:17 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, "some teams still wonder about" BYU DE Ziggy Ansah's age.

Ansah emigrated from Ghana in 2009, and says he was born May 29, 1989. Per Mort, "buzz behind the scenes" about Ansah's age picked up after he appeared "old in the face" at his Pro Day workout. Ansah has since sent his passport to a "select group of teams." Ansah didn't move to the United States with the intention of becoming a football player, so it's unlikely he's trying to pull a fast one. It shouldn't be a real issue leading up to the draft.
Source: Chris Mortensen on Twitter
Apr 17 - 5:46 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

BYU DE Ziggy Ansah had "never seen a football game" before enrolling in college.

23-year-old Ansah is a native of Ghana, and enrolled at BYU with hopes of walking onto the basketball team. He ran track before joining the football team in 2010. He didn't earn a scholarship until 2012. Ansah's unusual background and slow development have created questions about his top-ten draft status, but most signs suggest he won't escape the top five. An imposing 6-foot-5, 271 pounds, Ansah ran a 4.63 40-yard dash at the Combine, and posted the second fastest ten-yard split among defensive linemen.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Apr 12 - 9:22 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

NFL Draft insider Tony Pauline suggests the Buccaneers could be interested in a trade up to acquire BYU DE Ziggy Ansah.

Despite questions about Ansah's transition to the NFL after only one productive college season, teams remain enamored with the 6-foot-5, 271-pound edge rusher. We don't expect Ziggy to make it out of the top-five picks, but if Tampa Bay turns its attention away from Darrelle Revis, Ansah could add juice to a suspect defensive end group.
Related: Buccaneers
Source: TFY Draft Insider
Apr 5 - 5:26 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

ESPN's Chris Mortensen expects the Lions to either draft the best defensive end or best offensive tackle available with the fifth overall pick.

Detroit has glaring needs at both positions after losing Cliff Avril and Gosder Cherilus to free agency, and Jeff Backus to retirement. Ultimately, we don't think GM Martin Mayhew would pass on BYU DE Ziggy Ansah should he get by the Jaguars, Raiders, and Eagles. Freakishly long and athletic, Ansah is an ideal fit for coach Jim Schwartz's Wide-9 defensive line scheme.
Related: Lions
Source: Chris Mortensen on Twitter
Apr 4 - 12:53 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

The Florida Times Union expects the Jaguars to target a defensive lineman with the No. 2 overall pick.

Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell, who learned under needs-drafter Thomas Dimitroff in Atlanta, "likes to draft for need" and Jacksonville has huge needs on the D-Line. (They have huge needs everywhere but receiver and left tackle, to be realistic.) The Times Union's Vito Stellino believes "it would seem to be a reach" for the Jaguars to consider West Virginia's Geno Smith at the second pick.
Related: Jaguars
Source: Florida Times Union
Apr 1 - 3:05 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah did not train for February's Scouting Combine, instead focusing on finishing classes at Brigham Young.

Almost every Combine invitee hires a trainer to prepare. Ansah didn't, and he still tore it up. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty time (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. Only Barkevious Mingo had a faster ten-yard split (1.56). Ansah's agent claims his forty-yard dash at the Combine was the first he's ever run in his life. We expect Ansah to be drafted in the single digits.
Source: National Football Post
Mar 3 - 9:04 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

According to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, BYU DE/OLB Ziggy Ansah may have sewn up a top-ten draft pick with dominant Senior Bowl game and Combine performances.

"I talked to a team that's picking in that 15-20 range that shook their head and said, 'No chance (he'll be available). No chance," Jeremiah said Monday. Ansah single-handedly took over the Senior Bowl game, earning Defensive MVP honors with 3 1/2 tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, and a forced fumble. In Indy, Ansah clocked a 4.63 forty with 21 reps on the bench and a 34 1/2-inch vertical at 6-foot-5, 271. All long, we've projected Ansah as a top-ten pick.
Feb 25 - 7:11 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

BYU DE Ziggy Ansah ran forty times of 4.62 and 4.65 at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Ansah's official time won't be announced until later Monday, but to put those numbers into perspective, they're the exact same two unofficial times posted by Wisconsin RB Montee Ball. Ansah is beginning to look locked-in as a top-ten pick.
Source: Tim Twentyman on Twitter
Feb 25 - 9:33 AM

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