Austin Ekeler is a prominent figure in American football, currently serves as the running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football for the Western State Mountaineers and signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
Who is Austin Ekeler?
Austin Ekeler was born on May 17, 1995 in Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
He attended Eaton High School in Eaton, Colorado, where he played high school football for The Fightin’ Reds.
He was a four-year letterer and starter for the Fightin’ Reds; despite being only 5’5 as a freshman, Ekeler rushed for 454 yards and 8 touchdowns on 70 carries.
By the end of his career, Ekeler amassed 5,232 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns (39 of which came from his senior year alone) on 561 carries, averaging 9.15 yards-per-carry, with another 581 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Despite this performance, Ekeler was a zero-star recruit who saw practically no interest from any division one school.
Wyoming recruited him but never offered him a scholarship, and his only scholarship offers came from Adams State, Chadron State, Oklahoma Panhandle State, and Western Colorado University.
However, the first three universities wanted to switch him to the defensive side of the ball; Western Colorado was the only school to offer him at the tailback position.
Austin Ekeler is a remarkable player who has overcome many challenges and achieved great success in his career. Here are some of the highlights of his journey:
He started playing football at Eaton High School in Colorado, where he was a four-year starter and rushed for over 5,000 yards and 71 touchdowns.
He received no scholarship offers from any Division I schools, so he enrolled at Western State, a Division II school in Colorado.
There, he became a four-time First-team All-RMAC selection and set school records for rushing yards, all-purpose yards, and touchdowns.
He went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, but signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as a free agent.
He impressed the coaches with his versatility and work ethic, and made the final roster as the fourth running back.
He had his breakout season in 2019, when he stepped up as the starter while Melvin Gordon was holding out.
He finished the season with 1,550 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns, and became the first undrafted running back to have over 900 receiving yards in a single season.
He signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract extension with the Chargers in 2020, making him one of the highest-paid running backs in the league.
He continued to be a dual-threat weapon for the Chargers in 2021 and 2022, posting over 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in each season.
He also set an NFL record for the most receptions by a running back in a single game with 15 catches against the Denver Broncos in Week 17 of the 2022 season.
He became an owner of two teams in the Fan Controlled Football league, the Wild Aces and the Shoulda Been Stars, in 2021.
He also hosts a podcast called The Austin Ekeler Show, where he interviews other NFL players and celebrities.
Austin Ekeler has had a turbulent 2023 season so far. He requested a trade in the offseason, but stayed with the Chargers after they added $1.75 million in incentives to his contract.
He has been struggling to find his rhythm on the ground, averaging only 2.57 yards per carry since returning from an ankle injury.
However, he has been a reliable receiver for Justin Herbert, catching 107 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns.
He also set a new NFL record for the most receptions by a running back in a single game with 15 catches against the Broncos.
Austin Ekeler Parents
Austin Ekeler’s parents are Suzanne Ekeler-Adams and an unknown father.
His father is divorced from his mother and is serving a life sentence in prison in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Austin was raised by his stepfather, Mr. Adams, who has been with his mother for eleven years.
Austin does not have a strong relationship with either his biological father or his stepfather and does not talk much about them.
Austin has a very close bond with his mother, Suzanne, who is a residential realtor with Windermere Estate.
Austin Ekeler Siblings
Austin Ekeler has one sibling, a younger brother named Wyett Ekeler.
He is also a football player who plays as a wide receiver for the University of Wyoming Cowboys.
Austin Ekeler Family
Austin Ekeler has a small but loving family. Here is a list of his family members and their brief descriptions:
Fiancée: Melanie Wilking.
Mother: Suzanne Ekeler-Adams.
Brother: Wyett Ekeler.
Father: Unknown.
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