Stephen Ezekoye brings his talents to PITT

Pitt head coach Paul Chryst and staff signed 23 talented players to letters of intent last February.  While a myriad of those players captured the headlines, there were a few players joining the program that flew under the radar.  One of those players is 5-foot-9 inch, 205 pound walk-on athlete Stephen Ezekoye from Phillips Exeter Academy (NH).

“I attended Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, MD my senior year,” said Ezekoye.  “I talked to Pitt a little bit my senior year but an offer never came.  I had a couple D2 offers but I had Pitt in my heart.  Both of my parents went to school there and I actually lived in Pittsburgh for a brief time.  My brother attended Central Catholic High School his sophomore year.  He knew former Panthers Tino Sunseri and Andrew Taglianetti.  I kept in touch with Pitt’s Director of Player Personnel Dann Kabala and Special Teams Assistant Taylor Mehlhaff.”

“I knew I wanted to go to Pitt.  I decided to take a post-graduation year at Exeter Academy and improve my academic and athletic resume.  I’m walking on at Pitt and I look forward to the opportunity.”

Ezekoye is a tremendous athlete.  He’s generally considered one of the top sprinters in the New England.  When asked about his lack of offers his senior year, he was very honest with his response.  “I don’t know why.  It was very frustrating.  I had a number of schools involved with me and all of them would provide reasons for not offering me,” he said.  “I spent a year at Exeter to better myself.  I went from 185 pounds to 205 pounds and I can still run a high 4.4 forty-yard dash.  I can’t wait to get to Pitt and prove all of the schools that overlooked me wrong.  I’m using my opportunity at Pitt as motivation.”

Stephen has been a two-way standout at running back and safety.  He believes he will begin his Pitt career at running back.  “I have a solid build a tremendous speed for a running back,” he said.  “I can be a power back if I have to run someone over, but I’m ‘shifty’ as well.  I have to the speed to cut the ball to the outside.  I have strong peripheral vision and it helps my games.”

If the Panther’s coaching staff opts to move Ezekoye to the secondary, expect to see a number of bone jarring tackles.  “I’m very comfortable at safety.  I can really fill the alley.  People say I’m a good coverage guy because I have soft hands,” he said.  “I used to play slot receiver so catching the ball isn’t an issue.  I can read an offense and know where they are going.”

Although Stephen is a preferred walk-on, he hasn’t lowered his expectations for his freshan season.  “I want to make an immediate impact.  I want to make a contribution.  I want go there and help the team in any way I can.  My teammates and the coaching staff will be able to count on me.”