Packers 2017 Draft: Interview with Eastern Washington OLB Samson Ebukam

A young Nigerian’s journey to seek a better life in the United States is about to come full circle, as one of this year’s late risers in the upcoming draft has done nothing but continually captivate the interest of NFL talent evaluators over the past few months by featuring a set of rare physical traits that portend to a bright future in the pros.

Adjusting to his surroundings was no small feat for Samson Ebukam, who relocated from Africa to Portland, OR. at the age of nine along with his parents and six siblings.

He knew very little English—which he would eventually grow familiar with by watching television—and wasn’t quite up to speed with the types of sports that were popular in his new country.

Similar to many of his fellow Nigerians, Ebukam was a soccer fan and spent many of his formative years chasing the back-and-white sphere in his early development. But his roughhousing ways on the pitch, according to reports, didn’t quite mesh with a game that requires touch, precision and the ability to stop the ball while making very minimal contact with an adversary.

With a robust frame and superior natural strength, the driven teenage athlete found his calling on the football field at David Douglas High School, where he successfully put his physicality to good use by lining up at tight end, fullback and defensive end.

The two-way starter would go on to gain recognition by being selected to the All-Mount Hood Conference’s first team for his accomplishments on the defensive side of the ball.

And while Ebukam was talented enough to achieve varying levels of acclaim in track, basketball and in the javelin, he knew right away that his ticket to professional stardom would require a helmet and shoulder pads.

As a low-rated recruit, the multi-sport competitor had his choice of only two solid offers made to him by Eastern Washington and Portland State. He chose the former and made it his personal mission to earn playing time as a freshman instead of being relegated to redshirt status.

He wound up with 3 sacks and 1 interception while playing in all 15 games and continually improved following his maiden voyage through the Big Sky Conference.

As a full-time starter, Ebukam flashed his versatility to make plays off the edge, as well as contributing as an off-the-ball linebacker that had to make quick reads and slip blocks in order to meet the ball carrier head on.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of his defensive line coach Eti Ena, the ascending pass rusher started adding to his bag of tricks to get past blockers by incorporating an inside arm move to essentially swipe the opponent’s outside arm.

And along with also creating pressure with his speed to the outside, Ebukam wreaked havoc on stunts that saw him penetrate the inside of an offensive line as well.

As he became more polished, the communication studies major began developing some counter moves to change directions and shed his man even when his opponent already had his hands on him.

Ebukam saved his best for last by turning into a weekly one-man wrecking crew in his senior year, as evidenced by his performance versus Richmond in the FCS Playoffs quarterfinals in which he had eight tackles, a pair of sacks, two other tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception he returned seven yards.

He was, in fact, selected as the Eagles’ defensive player of the week four times in 2016.

Moreover, Ebukam was on the receiving end of high praise on the part of Pro Football Focus (PFF), which recently ranked him 13th among all edge rushers in the current draft class based on his 11 sacks, 10 hits and 42 hurries on 398 pass-rushing snaps in his final season in Cheney, WA.

The 6-foot-2, 248-pound prospect’s senior campaign was also highlighted by his 71 tackles and what PFF terms as 25 “stops” in run support, which places him fourth at the 3-4 outside linebacker position.

But it would take more than elite production at the FCS level to sway NFL scouts who needed to see more.

Ebukam delivered both in his week at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and at the subsequent Eastern Washington pro day where No. 3 ran the 40 in 4.45 seconds, reached 39 inches in his vertical leap, executed a 10’ 10” broad jump and lifted the 225-pound bar 24 times.

In recent weeks, the former Eagle has been a busy traveler by visiting with both the Falcons and the Packers among other teams. Organizations, such as the Buccaneers and Cardinals, conversely, have made trips to the Eastern Washington campus to privately work out Ebukam.

The man described by many as a “Tasmanian Devil” for his on-field exploits took some moments to chat with Lombardi Ave while he prepares to sit and anxiously wait for his name to be called next week.

Unlike some other aspiring pros that I’ve interviewed, Ebukam didn’t spend much time extolling his own individual virtues. Instead, he was far more effusive in his praise of others, such as former teammate Cooper Kupp.

Overall, this rookie-in-training is honest and humble, but very intense in his desire to succeed at the next level.

Here is the Eastern Washington team captain in his own words.