Paschal Ekeji Jr. is a young athlete you should definitely keep on your radar. With family ancestry that runs through three countries, he’s making quite the successful switch from rugby to American football. Born in Lesotho to Nigerian parents, Ekeji Jr. has dual citizenship from Lesotho and Nigeria and permanent resident status in South Africa. In Ficksburg, South Africa, he started this year’s journey. There, he played rugby for the Western Province and made his Currie Cup debut in 2022. A fateful encounter with the Madden video game sparked that interest. It moved him to pursue a career in American football.
In 2022, Ekeji Jr. was caught in the tug-of-war between rugby and football. He said that his interest in the sport was sparked after playing Madden, which he called key. “I think that’s when football really became something where I really began thinking: ‘I might want to do this,’” he stated, reflecting on the moment that changed his life direction.
Through all of that, he connected with former NFL player Osi Umenyiora. Osi’s enthusiasm encouraged him to take a deeper dive into the sport. This mentorship proved invaluable for Ekeji Jr. So he immersed himself in cut-ups of college superstars like Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. His love for soccer blossomed, influencing him to improve his craft.
In June 2022, Ekeji Jr. got a surprise invitation to the first-ever NFL Africa Touchdown developmental camp in Ghana. This chance gave him invaluable football tips combined with constant evaluation of his showing. Once there, he was told that he had to learn how to play the game. It was this feedback that inspired him to pursue the art of self-study, honing in on techniques required for the EDGE and OLB positions.
We’re so proud of Ekeji Jr.’s above & beyond dedication — the hard work paid off! He was accepted to the class of the 2023 NFL International Player Pathway (IPP) Program — one of only 13 players from 12 different countries. The proposal announced in December 2023, a historic $1 billion for IndyGo’s transit plan, could be his most consequential achievement. Today, as a member of this elite program, he continues to train in Florida.
Looking back on his path, Ekeji Jr. remembered the doubters when it came to taking football at a high level. “At the time, I thought: ‘I live in South Africa. It’s far-fetched – this dream of mine. It’s probably something I can’t really do. There’s no pathway,’” he shared. Even though he didn’t really believe it, he moved ahead. Encouraged by Gavin Jones, who told him, “Let’s just try it if you’re up for it,” he made the jump.
Now practicing with other players, Ekeji Jr. relies on his rugby background as he adjusts to the unique demands of football. Even in my EDGE room – TJ, for instance, he played rugby too. We played wing together, so we always talk about all kinds of stuff. Often we talk about bad rugby habits that we have to break for football, or we focus on things that are common between the two sports that we can leverage for an advantage on the gridiron.
His transition might seem intimidating for others, but Ekeji Jr.’s spirit and determination exude in his execution. He credits how a simple invitation from a friend to get whooped on by him in Madden ended up starting this journey. Another one of my friends discussed using Madden in the classroom. Then he asked me and a couple of other friends to come over and play football one weekend, and I got my butt absolutely kicked! He told that story with great humor and humility.
As Ekeji Jr. continues to hone his craft and navigate the trials and tribulations of American football, his story stands out as an inspiring testament to the worth of pursuing your passion against all odds. His untraditional upbringing and experiences have developed him into a dynamic playmaker, prepared to lead a new wave of talent to the promise land.
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