University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics
Ekuban's Patience Pays Off in Breakout Performance
9/15/2026 9:45:00 AM | Football
GREELEY, Colo. – Ezra Ekuban did not play in the opener. A minor injury at the end of fall camp kept him sidelined against Weber State, and even when he returned the following week against South Dakota, he was still working his way back.
Saturday at Wyoming, the fifth-year defensive lineman was finally fully healthy. The result was a career day.
Ekuban recorded six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a career-high three tackles for loss in Northern Colorado's 21-13 loss at War Memorial Stadium, establishing himself as a disruptive force on a defense that has shown flashes through three games.
"I didn't play week one. I was coming off a minor injury that I had at the end of fall camp, so I didn't play that game, and just been slowly working back into the rotation as my body's been feeling better," Ekuban said. "This was my first week that I felt fully healthy, ready to go play football."
The timing could not be better. Northern Colorado, now 0-3, returns home this week to face Northeastern State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Nottingham Field, and the Bears will need Ekuban's presence up front as they search for their first win.
Ekuban's breakout did not happen overnight. He has spent five seasons in Greeley, one of a small handful of players who predate head coach Ed Lamb's arrival. He has watched the program grow slowly, seen the defensive line develop depth and experience, and waited for his own body to cooperate.
"The big thing with our defensive line is just our experience and our depth," Ekuban said. "Got a lot of seniors in the room, a lot of juniors, dudes who have played here for a long time, that know our scheme, that know who we play against, what they like to do. That experience really shows up in moments when there's pressure, when there's a big crowd. The moment is not too big for having guys that have experience, it's big for our D-line."
Against Wyoming, that experience showed. Ekuban was a constant presence in the Cowboys' backfield, helping limit Wyoming to 155 rushing yards and forcing quarterback Tyler Hughes into uncomfortable situations. It was the second consecutive game against an FBS opponent in which Ekuban has made an impact – he recorded two tackles for loss against Colorado State last season, giving him five in his last two matchups against FBS competition.
"The biggest hurdle for me, just my football career, has been staying healthy for the most part," Ekuban said. "Had a lot of minor injuries here and there, so just doing my best to make sure my body is feeling its best, ready to go play."
When he is on the field, Ekuban said his approach is simple: do your job, play hard, and let the plays come.
"I've been playing at this level for so long, I kind of know what to expect at a certain level," he said. "There's nothing I haven't seen before, so just knowing my job, how I fit into our whole defense, and just playing with effort, I feel like that's what really leads to the plays that I make. You don't really have to do anything special; you just have to do your job the way you're supposed to do it every play, and the plays will come."
That mentality has helped keep the locker room together through a difficult 0-3 start. After Saturday's loss – in which Northern Colorado held a 13-7 lead entering the fourth quarter before a lightning delay and two late Wyoming touchdowns changed the outcome – Ekuban said the Bears are holding themselves accountable but not letting the losses define them.
"Obviously, everybody's a bit upset just about the outcome of the game, but we all know what we need to improve on," he said. "There's a lot of things that we could have done better at the end of the game to prevent them from scoring at all in the fourth quarter. Everybody is taking that to heart. Everybody's hard on themselves. They know the mistakes they made. We got them corrected, so it won't be a problem in the future."
Ekuban has had opportunities to leave. As a fifth-year player with prior coaching staff ties, he could have pursued other options. But he stayed – in part because of family, in part because of community.
"I'm from Colorado. My family's close by. I live in Parker, Colorado. It's like an hour and a half away from here," he said. "Just being close to them is important for me, so I could be in my younger siblings' life, be a positive role model to them. And then another reason I decided to stay is I just kind of grew into love the community of Greeley. I've been here for a while, and it's what I'm familiar with. Grass isn't always greener on the other side."
That loyalty has been rewarded with a growing role on a defense that believes it is close to turning a corner. The Bears held Wyoming to 304 total yards and seven points through three quarters Saturday. With Ekuban healthy and disruptive, the front seven has become a strength.
The path continues Saturday at Nottingham Field, where Northern Colorado will try to get its first win against Northeastern State. For Ekuban, it is another chance to build on a career day – and to show that patience and persistence are paying off.
"This is probably the most people we've had at games since I've been here, especially the home games," Ekuban said. "Just seeing everybody excited to see us play, despite the outcomes of the past games that we've had. Just like the unwavering support, I just really appreciate everybody that comes out and supports us every week."
Saturday's kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Nottingham Field.
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at UNCBears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Saturday at Wyoming, the fifth-year defensive lineman was finally fully healthy. The result was a career day.
Ekuban recorded six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a career-high three tackles for loss in Northern Colorado's 21-13 loss at War Memorial Stadium, establishing himself as a disruptive force on a defense that has shown flashes through three games.
"I didn't play week one. I was coming off a minor injury that I had at the end of fall camp, so I didn't play that game, and just been slowly working back into the rotation as my body's been feeling better," Ekuban said. "This was my first week that I felt fully healthy, ready to go play football."
The timing could not be better. Northern Colorado, now 0-3, returns home this week to face Northeastern State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Nottingham Field, and the Bears will need Ekuban's presence up front as they search for their first win.
Ekuban's breakout did not happen overnight. He has spent five seasons in Greeley, one of a small handful of players who predate head coach Ed Lamb's arrival. He has watched the program grow slowly, seen the defensive line develop depth and experience, and waited for his own body to cooperate.
"The big thing with our defensive line is just our experience and our depth," Ekuban said. "Got a lot of seniors in the room, a lot of juniors, dudes who have played here for a long time, that know our scheme, that know who we play against, what they like to do. That experience really shows up in moments when there's pressure, when there's a big crowd. The moment is not too big for having guys that have experience, it's big for our D-line."
Against Wyoming, that experience showed. Ekuban was a constant presence in the Cowboys' backfield, helping limit Wyoming to 155 rushing yards and forcing quarterback Tyler Hughes into uncomfortable situations. It was the second consecutive game against an FBS opponent in which Ekuban has made an impact – he recorded two tackles for loss against Colorado State last season, giving him five in his last two matchups against FBS competition.
"The biggest hurdle for me, just my football career, has been staying healthy for the most part," Ekuban said. "Had a lot of minor injuries here and there, so just doing my best to make sure my body is feeling its best, ready to go play."
When he is on the field, Ekuban said his approach is simple: do your job, play hard, and let the plays come.
"I've been playing at this level for so long, I kind of know what to expect at a certain level," he said. "There's nothing I haven't seen before, so just knowing my job, how I fit into our whole defense, and just playing with effort, I feel like that's what really leads to the plays that I make. You don't really have to do anything special; you just have to do your job the way you're supposed to do it every play, and the plays will come."
That mentality has helped keep the locker room together through a difficult 0-3 start. After Saturday's loss – in which Northern Colorado held a 13-7 lead entering the fourth quarter before a lightning delay and two late Wyoming touchdowns changed the outcome – Ekuban said the Bears are holding themselves accountable but not letting the losses define them.
"Obviously, everybody's a bit upset just about the outcome of the game, but we all know what we need to improve on," he said. "There's a lot of things that we could have done better at the end of the game to prevent them from scoring at all in the fourth quarter. Everybody is taking that to heart. Everybody's hard on themselves. They know the mistakes they made. We got them corrected, so it won't be a problem in the future."
Ekuban has had opportunities to leave. As a fifth-year player with prior coaching staff ties, he could have pursued other options. But he stayed – in part because of family, in part because of community.
"I'm from Colorado. My family's close by. I live in Parker, Colorado. It's like an hour and a half away from here," he said. "Just being close to them is important for me, so I could be in my younger siblings' life, be a positive role model to them. And then another reason I decided to stay is I just kind of grew into love the community of Greeley. I've been here for a while, and it's what I'm familiar with. Grass isn't always greener on the other side."
That loyalty has been rewarded with a growing role on a defense that believes it is close to turning a corner. The Bears held Wyoming to 304 total yards and seven points through three quarters Saturday. With Ekuban healthy and disruptive, the front seven has become a strength.
The path continues Saturday at Nottingham Field, where Northern Colorado will try to get its first win against Northeastern State. For Ekuban, it is another chance to build on a career day – and to show that patience and persistence are paying off.
"This is probably the most people we've had at games since I've been here, especially the home games," Ekuban said. "Just seeing everybody excited to see us play, despite the outcomes of the past games that we've had. Just like the unwavering support, I just really appreciate everybody that comes out and supports us every week."
Saturday's kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Nottingham Field.
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at UNCBears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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