Dolphins WR Coach Wes Welker: 'Pushed for Miami to Draft Red Raiders Receiver'
Erik Ezukanma is the latest Red Raider wide receiver in a long lineage to find himself in the NFL.
Ezukanma was drafted by the Miami Dolphins with their fourth round pick, joining a talented wide receiver room featuring Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson Jr., where he will look to make his mark over the rest of the offseason.
While drafting a wide receiver may not have seemed like a glaring need for the Dolphins, when Ezukanma was available with their fourth round pick there wasn't a chance they would pass him up.
However his stats in college paint a bigger picture as to why the Dolphins believe Ezukanma on their roster moving forward.
In his final season at Texas Tech, Ezukanma hauled in 48 receptions for 705 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, displaying the versatility that new Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel will love working with.
McDaniel though, while valuing Ezukanma and wanting him on the Dolphins, was not the only voice within the coaching staff pushing for the team to draft him, as new wide receivers coach and former Red Raider Wes Welker pushed strongly for Ezukanma.
“He was the kind of player that fit our profile,” general manager Chris Grier told reporters in his media availability with coach Mike McDaniel following the draft. “Wes worked him out and he was on Mike from day one about getting a Red Raider receiver in here.”
Now, Ezukanma has the rest of the offseason before September to work with Welker and McDaniel as he aims to make the final 53-man roster. If he does crack the 53-man roster, look for Ezukanma to be used all over the field as Welker coaches him up and gets the best out of him.
