Former Michigan football player Obi Ezeh is dead at the age of 36, his mother announced over the weekend.
The former standout linebacker starred at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School before going on to play five seasons at the University of Michigan. He spent one season in the NFL, signing with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Details of Ezeh’s death have not been made public, but his mother, Nketchy Ekere Ezeh, took to Facebook Sunday morning to pay tribute to her son.
“My Obinna Ezeh, you will always be in my heart my beloved son,” she wrote in part, describing her son as “my quiet giant” and “grand child of an elephant.”
Ezeh appeared in 50 games during his Michigan career from 2006 to 2010, starting 38 of them at middle linebacker. He amassed 293 career tackles after redshirting his freshman season, garnering freshman All-American honors in 2007 and Big Ten honorable mention in ‘08. He tallied nine career double-digit tackle games.
A star two-way player at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Ezeh set the school rushing record with 3,189 yards and 26 touchdowns from 2003 to 2005. He helped lead the team to an 11-2 record and to the state championship game as a senior, earning state all-star honors. Ezeh also part of the state championship rugby team.
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