New Orleans Saints select Hilliard Davidson graduate Josiah Ezirim in NFL draft
After a successful career at Hilliard Davidson as a defensive lineman, Josiah Ezirim credits a position change in college as a crucial step toward his opportunity to play in the NFL.
The 2019 Davidson graduate played on the defensive line in his first two seasons at Eastern Kentucky. After a talk with coach Walt Wells following his sophomore season, Ezirim switched to the offensive line and flourished at right tackle in his final two years with the Colonels.
In the seventh and final round of the NFL draft on Saturday, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Ezirim was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 239th overall pick. He watched the draft with family and friends at his home in Dublin and received a call from the Saints before their selection.
“When (Wells) first suggested (moving to right tackle), I was a little nervous because I didn’t know if I was going to be good at that,” Ezirim said. “I didn’t know if that was the right move. There were some growing pains when I first moved, but as time went on, I became more confident in myself and really started to understand the position, and I started to get the hang of things.”
Ezirim was named third-team Associated Press FCS All-American as well as first-team All-United Athletic Conference after starting 11 games at right tackle in his senior season.
“Josiah put himself into a great position to have an outstanding college career by attending Eastern Kentucky University,” former Davidson coach Brian White said. “EKU enabled him to grow mentally and physically. I think it was the exact place for him to thrive, and now he’s reaping the benefits of making that choice.”
Ezirim also credits White and his time at Davidson for his success.
“With coach White and his emphasis on being physically and mentally tough, I feel it helped me throughout my career as a football player,” Ezirim said.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NFL draft: Saints select Hilliard Davidson graduate Josiah Ezirim
