How an undrafted zero-star recruit became an NFL touchdown leader
In short: Austin Ekeler entered the NFL with almost no interest from Division I schools. After being overlooked by major programs and rejected for his size, he defied the odds to become a dual-threat powerhouse, leading the league in touchdowns for two consecutive seasons and etching his name into the record books.
Ekeler's journey began far from the bright lights of the NFL. As a high school player at Eaton High School, he stood only 5 feet 5 inches tall, yet he managed to rush for 454 yards and 8 touchdowns during his freshman year. Despite this, he was considered a zero-star recruit. Major Division I programs showed little interest, and even Wyoming, which recruited him, declined to offer a scholarship. Ultimately, Western Colorado was the only school to offer him a scholarship at the tailback position, whereas others wanted to move him to defense.
At Western Colorado, Ekeler became a collegiate phenomenon. He finished his tenure as the school's all-time leader in rushing yards, amassing 5,232 yards and 71 touchdowns. His sophomore season was particularly dominant, where he set school records with 1,676 rushing yards and 2,093 total all-purpose yards. This momentum carried him into the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2017, signing a three-year, $1.66 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the NFL, Ekeler proved his versatility by becoming one of the league's premier offensive weapons. He achieved the rare feat of leading the NFL in total touchdowns for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. By achieving 10+ rushing touchdowns and 5+ receiving touchdowns in back-to-back years, he entered an exclusive club alongside Marshall Faulk. His dual-threat prowess as a runner and receiver established him as a Chargers legend, matching Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson as the sole duo to reach 20+ touchdowns within one season.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Austin Ekeler
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