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Daniel Ekuale

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Daniel Ekuale
refer to caption
Ekuale in the 2019 NFL season
No. 95 – New England Patriots
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1994-01-13) January 13, 1994 (age 30)
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school:Nuʻuuli Voc-Tech
College:Washington State (2013–2017)
Undrafted:2018
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:39
Sacks:5.0
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tanielu "Daniel" Ekuale (born January 13, 1994) is a Samoan American football defensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington State.

Early years

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Ekuale was born and grew in Pago Pago, American Samoa and attended Nuʻuuli Vocational Technical High School.[1] He was rated the best college prospect for his class in American Samoa by most recruiting services and committed to play college football at Washington State University over offers from Oregon, Oregon State and Washington and after originally committing to play at Hawaii.[2]

College career

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Ekuale was a member of the Washington State Cougars for five seasons, redshirting his true freshman season. He became a starter at nose tackle for the Cougars during his redshirt junior season, recording a career-high 23 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack.[3] Ekuale entered his redshirt senior season on the watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and made 17 tackles (3.5 for loss) and one sack while starting 12 of WSU's 13 games.[4] He finished his collegiate career with 71 total tackles (14 for loss) with three sacks and two forced fumbles.[5]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in
(1.91 m) 		299 lb
(136 kg) 		31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 5.24 s 1.78 s 2.98 s 4.70 s 7.52 s 31.5 in
(0.80 m)		 8 ft 2 in
(2.49 m)		 23 reps
All values from Pro Day[6][7]

Cleveland Browns

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Ekuale signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2018.[8] He was waived at the end of training camp but re-signed to the Browns' practice squad on September 2, 2018.[9] Ekuale was removed from the practice squad on December 6, 2018, after receiving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substance policy.[10]

Ekuale signed a reserve/future contract with the Browns on January 2, 2019, and made the 53-man roster out of training camp.[11] Ekuale made his NFL debut on September 8, 2019, against the Tennessee Titans.[12] The Browns placed Ekuale on injured reserve after sustaining a calf injury while playing against the New England Patriots in Week 8. He finished the season with four tackles, one for a loss, in seven games played.[13]

Ekuale was waived by the Browns on September 5, 2020.[14]

Jacksonville Jaguars

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On September 8, 2020, Ekuale was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.[15] He was promoted to the active roster on September 28, 2020.[16]

In Week 13 against the Minnesota Vikings, Ekuale recorded his first career sack on Kirk Cousins during the 27–24 overtime loss.[17]

On August 31, 2021, Ekuale was waived by the Jaguars.[18]

New England Patriots

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On September 5, 2021, the Patriots signed Ekuale to the practice squad.[19] Ekuale spent the entire 2021 regular season on the Patriots' practice squad, but was elevated to the 53-man roster a total of eight times.[20] On December 6, 2021, Ekuale had 2 tackles and sack in the Patriots 14–10 win over the Buffalo Bills. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Patriots on January 25, 2022.[21]

Ekuale was suspended the first two games of the 2022 season.[22]

On March 23, 2023, Ekuale re-signed with the Patriots.[23] He suffered a torn biceps in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve on September 26.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Loh, Stephanie (September 7, 2017). "After a transformative offseason, WSU nose tackle Daniel Ekuale is playing the best football of his life". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Sandritter, Mark (February 6, 2013). "Daniel Ekuale faxes in letter of intent to Washington State". CougCenter.com. SB Nation. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  3. ^ Loh, Stephanie (August 10, 2017). "WSU's Dan Ekuale, Hercules Mata'afa named to Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Risdon, Jeff (June 24, 2019). "Daniel Ekuale could be the Browns' summer surprise". Browns Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  5. ^ Ruiter, Daryl (May 4, 2018). "Browns sign 13 undrafted free agents". 923TheFan.Radio.com. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  6. ^ "2018 Draft Scout Daniel Ekuale, Washington State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Daniel Ekuale 2018 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Alper, Josh (May 4, 2018). "Browns sign 13 undrafted free agents, including Evan Berry". Profootballtalk.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  9. ^ Axelrod, Ben (September 3, 2018). "Cleveland Browns announce 2018 practice squad". WKYC.com. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  10. ^ Risdon, Jeff (December 6, 2018). "Browns add 2 to practice squad after Daniel Ekuale suspension". Browns Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  11. ^ Pokorny, Chris (January 2, 2019). "Browns sign nine players to reserve/future deals, including DE Devaroe Lawrence". DawgsByNature.com. SB Nation. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  12. ^ Pokorny, Chris (September 9, 2019). "Browns' defensive snap counts, stats, and notes: Week 1". DawgsByNature.com. SB Nation. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  13. ^ Risdon, Jeff (November 1, 2019). "Browns place DT Daniel Ekuale on injured reserve, promote TE Stephen Carlson". Browns Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  14. ^ Gribble, Andrew (September 5, 2020). "Browns announce initial 53-man roster heading into 2020 season". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  15. ^ "Jaguars Make Roster Moves". Jaguars.com. September 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Jaguars Make Roster Moves". Jaguars.com. September 28, 2020.
  17. ^ "Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings - December 6th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  18. ^ Oehser, John (September 1, 2021). "Official: Jaguars claim Johnson, sign 13 players to practice squad". Jaguars.com.
  19. ^ "Patriots sign defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale to the practice squad". Patriots.com. September 5, 2021.
  20. ^ "Patriots Did Not Sign These Practice Squad Players To Future Contracts". NESN.com. January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  21. ^ "Patriots Sign DL Daniel Ekuale to a Future Contract". Patriots.com. January 25, 2022.
  22. ^ Thomas, Oliver (June 13, 2022). "Patriots defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale suspended for first two games of 2022 season". Pats Pulpit. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  23. ^ "Patriots Re-Sign DL Daniel Ekuale and Sign P Corliss Waitman". Patriots.com. March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  24. ^ "Patriots Place DL Daniel Ekuale on Injured Reserve and Release DB William Hooper from the Practice Squad". Patriots.com. September 26, 2023.
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