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Austin Ekeler

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Austin Ekeler
No. 30 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1995-05-17) May 17, 1995 (age 29)
Lincoln, NE[1]
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Eaton (Eaton, Colorado)
College:Western Colorado University
Undrafted:2017
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 13, 2019
Rushing yards:1,194
Rushing average:4.6
Rushing touchdowns:8
Receptions:135
Receiving yards:1,401
Receiving touchdowns:13
Return yards:85
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Austin Ekeler (born May 17, 1995) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Colorado University and signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017.[2]

Early years

Ekeler attended and played high school football for The Fightin' Reds at Eaton High School.[3]

College career

Ekeler attended and played college football at Western Colorado from 2013–2016.[4]

As a freshman, Ekeler started nine games. He led the team with 1,049 rushing yards to go along with seven rushing touchdowns. As a sophomore, he had 14 rushing touchdowns and set school records with 1,676 rushing yards, 2,093 total all-purpose yards, and 190.3 all-purpose yards per game. As a junior, he had 19 rushing touchdowns and led Division II in all-purpose yards per game with 203.9 and scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game.[5] As a senior, he had 1,495 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.[6]

Professional career

Ekeler signed a three-year, $1.66 million contract that includes a $5,000 signing bonus with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft.[7]

2017

In the season opening 24–21 loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, Ekeler had two receptions for 18 yards in his NFL debut.[8] In Week 4, against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had his first career touchdown, a 35-yard rush, on his first NFL carry.[9] On November 12, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had 10 carries for 42 yards to go along with five receptions for 77 receiving yards and two touchdowns.[10] Overall, he finished his rookie season with 260 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 27 receptions, 279 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.[11]

2018

In the 2018 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Ekeler had 39 rushing yards to go along with five receptions for 87 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in the 38–28 loss.[12] He scored a receiving touchdown in Weeks 4 and 5 against the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders.[13][14] In Week 14, against the Cincinnati Bengals, he aggravated a neck injury, which sidelined him for two games.[15] He returned for the regular season finale against the Denver Broncos and scored a rushing touchdown.[16] Overall, in the 2018 season, he finished with 554 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 39 receptions, 404 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.[17] The Chargers earned the #5-seed for the AFC Playoffs.[18] In the Wild Card Round against the Baltimore Ravens, he had 43 scrimmage yards in the 23–17 victory.[19] In the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots, he had three receptions for 19 yards in the 41–28 loss.[20]

2019

Ekeler began the season as the starter while Melvin Gordon was in a contract dispute. In Week 1, Ekeler rushed 12 times for 58 yards and the game-winning touchdown, in addition to 6 passes for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 30–24 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts.[21][22] In Week 2 against the Detroit Lions, Ekeler continued his leading back role. In the game, he rushed 17 times for 66 yards and a touchdown with additional work in the receiving game, recording 6 receptions for 67 in the team's 10–13 loss to the Lions. [23] In Week 3 against the Houston Texans Ekeler continued his lead back role. In the game, Ekeler rushed nine times for 36 yards and caught seven receptions for 45 yards.[24] In week 4 against the Miami Dolphins, Ekeler rushed 18 times for 60 yards and 1 touchdown and caught 5 passes for 62 yards and 1 touchdown in the 30–10 win. [25] During Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, Ekeler had only 7 rushing yards but had 118 receiving yards as the Chargers lost 20–23.[26] In week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, Ekeler rushed 5 times for 24 yards and caught 8 passes for 108 yards in the 24–17 loss. [27] During Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ekeler finished with 101 rushing yards on just 8 carries, with four receptions for 112 receiving yards, and a touchdown as the Chargers won 45-10. He was the sixth player ever and the first since Herschel Walker in 1986 to average over 10 yards per carry and reception in a 100/100 game.[28][29]

References

  1. ^ "From Friday night lights to a chance to shine on Sundays: Eaton's Austin Ekeler has used influence of mother, family, friends, community and skeptics to realize his NFL dream". Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "Eaton's Austin Ekeler signs NFL undrafted free agent deal with Los Angeles Chargers". GreeleyTribune.com. April 29, 2017.
  3. ^ Fernandez, Bobby (September 2, 2017). "Eaton's Austin Ekeler makes Los Angeles Chargers roster; Northern Colorado's Kyle Sloter released by Denver Broncos". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  4. ^ Fredrickson, Kyle (January 14, 2018). "D-II to NFL: How Western State's Austin Ekeler came to thrive for Los Angeles Chargers". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Austin Ekeler - 2016 Football". Western State Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "Austin Ekeler: Stats & Rankings, Western State RB". herosports.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Henne, Ricky (May 1, 2017). "Chargers Agree to Terms with 15 Undrafted Free Agents". Chargers.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  8. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos - September 11th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  9. ^ "Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Chargers - October 1st, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars - November 12th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  11. ^ "Austin Ekeler 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  12. ^ "Chargers' Austin Ekeler: Gains 126 yards from scrimmage". CBSSports.com. September 9, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  13. ^ Arnold, Geoffrey C. (September 30, 2018). "Los Angeles Chargers squeeze past the San Francisco 49ers: Game recap, score, stats". OregonLive.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  14. ^ Reedy, Joe (October 8, 2018). "Rivers throws for 339 yards, 2 TDs as Chargers beat Raiders". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  15. ^ "Chargers' Austin Ekeler: Aggravates neck injury". CBSSports.com. December 9, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos - December 30th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  17. ^ "Austin Ekeler 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "2018 Los Angeles Chargers Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  19. ^ "Wild Card - Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens - January 6th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Divisional Round - Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots - January 13th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  21. ^ "Austin Ekeler does Melvin Gordon imitation, meaning Chargers don't miss holdout back". Los Angeles Times. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  22. ^ "Ekeler scores 3 TDs in Chargers 30-24 OT win over Colts". www.espn.com. Associated Press. September 8, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  23. ^ "Austin Ekeler Player Profile". Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  24. ^ "Chargers Austin Ekeler Slowed Down by Texans". www.cbssports.com. September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  25. ^ "Long time coming: Rivers, Chargers beat Dolphins, 30-10". www.espn.com. September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  26. ^ "Casey recovers fumble, Titans hold off Chargers' rally 23-20". www.espn.com. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  27. ^ "Mahomes, Chiefs hold off Chargers 24-17 in Mexico City". www.espn.com. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  28. ^ "100/100 games with 10+ yds/carry and reception". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  29. ^ "Chargers end skid, hand Jaguars 5th straight lopsided loss". www.espn.com. December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
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