Eku Leota Explained

Eku Leota
Currentteam:Pittsburgh Steelers
Number:53
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:11 May 1999
Birth Place:Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:252
High School:Asheville
College:Northwestern (2018–2020)
Auburn (2021–2022)
Undraftedyear:2023
Pastteams:
Status:Practice squad
Highlights:
Pfr:LeotEk00

Eku Leota (born May 11, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern before transferring to Auburn.

Early life

Leota grew up in Asheville, North Carolina and attended Asheville High School.[1]

College career

Leota began his college football career at Northwestern and redshirted his true freshman season.[2] He had 2.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman. Leota was named third-team All-Big Ten Conference during his redshirt sophomore season.[3] He entered the NCAA transfer portal at the end of the regular season.[4]

Leota ultimately transferred to Auburn.[5] He made 23 tackles with ten tackles for loss and seven sacks in his first season with the team.[6] Leota suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in the fifth game of the Tigers' 2022 season.[7]

Professional career

Carolina Panthers

Leota was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023.[8] On August 29, 2023, he was waived for final roster cuts, but signed to the Panthers' practice squad the following day.[9] [10] He was promoted to the active roster on November 13, 2023.[11]

On September 17, 2024, Leota was waived by the Panthers, and re-signed to the practice squad.[12] He was then released again on September 24.[13]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On October 1, 2024, Leota was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "War Eku"; Former Asheville star chasing future while honoring past at Auburn. Chris. Womack. WLOS.com. September 4, 2022. April 26, 2023.
  2. Web site: Durando . Bennett . October 14, 2021 . Auburn football's Eku Leota driven by hunger to compete and eat . April 26, 2023 . Montgomery Advertiser.
  3. Web site: From Wildcat to Tiger, Eku Leota is dangerous to quarterbacks across conferences. Giana. Han. AL.com. March 14, 2021. April 26, 2023.
  4. Web site: Northwestern WR Kyric McGowan and DL Eku Leota enter the transfer portal. Lia. Assimakopoulos. InsideNU.com. SB Nation. December 21, 2020. April 26, 2023.
  5. Web site: Northwestern transfer Eku Leota making most of new opportunity at Auburn, in SEC. Tom. Green. AL.com. October 5, 2021. April 26, 2023.
  6. Web site: Auburn edge defender Eku Leota returning for senior season. Tom. Green. AL.com. January 11, 2022. April 26, 2023.
  7. Web site: Bryan Harsin says Auburn football edge rusher Eku Leota likely out for season. Montgomery Advertiser. October 3, 2022. April 26, 2023.
  8. Web site: Panthers agree to terms with undrafted rookies. Gantt, Darin. Panthers.com. April 29, 2023.
  9. Web site: Panthers make moves en route to 53-man roster limit. Panthers.com. August 29, 2023. August 30, 2023. Darin. Gantt.
  10. Web site: Panthers add 11 players to the practice squad. Panthers.com. August 30, 2023. August 30, 2023. Darin. Gantt.
  11. Web site: Gantt. Darin. November 13, 2023. Jaycee Horn, Ian Thomas designated to return from IR. November 15, 2023. Panthers.com.
  12. Web site: Gantt . Darin . Panthers make three moves . panthers.com . 18 September 2024.
  13. Web site: Rizzutti . Anthony . Panthers announce flurry of moves as Adam Thielen, Jordan Fuller head to IR . Panthers Wire . 25 September 2024.
  14. Web site: Steelers make multiple roster moves. Steelers.com. October 1, 2024.

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