2013 NFL draft prospect Ezekiel Ansah is an athletic freak of nature and, for that reason alone, the New York Giants should have their eyes set on him when considering who they will select with the 19th-overall selection.
This past season, the Giants’ pass rush was not the same. Age had taken a toll on once-elite defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, and breakout superstar and fellow DE Jason Pierre-Paul could only do so much against the resulting constant double teams. Consequently, opposing offenses feasted on the Giants’ decimated secondary for 254.2 passing yards per game, 60 plays of 20 yards or more and 26 touchdowns.
Pierre-Paul needs help generating a solid pass rush and who better to assist him in doing so than the very guy who has been compared to him since the end of the 2012 season — Brigham Young’s “Ziggy” Ansah.
Like Pierre-Paul was when he came out of South Florida, Ansah is as raw as they come. He has just three years of football experience and one as a starter. Heck, he had never even heard of football before 2009.
For what it’s worth, however, Ansah’s first season as a starter was quite an emergence for the Ghana-born up-and-comer. He tallied 62 tackles, 13 of which went for a loss, 4 1/2 sacks and an interception in the Poinsettia Bowl against San Diego State.
He ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and, apparently, did so without the same excessive preparation typical of most of the attending athletes according to the National Football Post’s Dan Pompei. And he did it all at a massive 6-foot-5, 271 pounds.
Ansah is a natural athlete who showcased his versatility when asked to drop into coverage at the Combine and performed admirably. While his experience may make him a question mark, his ability to progress quickly while learning things on the fly implies that he could develop into a top-flight player in the NFL in no time; much like Pierre-Paul did with his 16 1/2-sack breakout year in 2011.
At BYU, Ansah lined up at defensive end in the 3-4 defensive scheme, outside linebacker in the 4-3 and even saw some snaps at defensive tackle. His multifaceted talents would be a valuable addition to the Giants’ defensive rotation. They love to use their defensive linemen in a multitude of ways and will line them up as they see best fits the situation.
General manager Jerry Reese also loves raw talents like Ansah. That’s why he took a chance on Jason Pierre-Paul in the first round of the 2010 draft. He also spent a fourth-round pick on tight end Adrien Robinson in 2012 despite many believing he wasn’t NFL-ready and would not have even been drafted.
“Ziggy” might be new to the game, but he looks like a sure thing. His size, athleticism and unbelievably high ceiling for greatness make him a tempting prospect for just about every team on draft day. The unfortunate reality is that he may come off the boards before the Giants are slated to pick. But if he is there at No. 19, they may be fools not to take him.
Louis Musto is a writer for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.