Emeke Egbule, LB, Houston 2019 NFL Draft

• 2018 Athlon Sports Preseason AAC Third Team

2018: Led The American’s linebackers with seven passes defended … ranked fifth nationally with three fumble recoveries … finished with five tackles, including one for loss, one pass breakup and one QB hurry in win against Arizona … had four tackles, including one for loss, and one pass breakup at Texas Tech … had three QB hurries and two tackles in win against Texas Southern … had eight tackles with two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup in win against Tulsa … had five tackles, four QB hurries, one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and one interception in win at ECU … had 11 tackles in win at Navy … had three tackles with one sack in win over No. 21/20 USF … had four tackles and one pass breakup in win over Tulane … had 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, with one sack at Memphis … closed out his career with eight tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery vs. Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. 

2017: Started all 12 games … fifth on the team with 62 tackles … fourth on the team with 6.5 tackles for a loss of 43 yards … tallied eight stops including one for a loss of three yards vs. Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl … had six tackles and one for a loss of five yards in win over Navy … tallied four tackles at Tulane … had six tackles, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in win vs. ECU … tallied seven tackles and one for a loss in win at No. 17 USF … tallied seven tackles at Tulsa … recorded a sack for a loss of 24 yards and four tackles in win at Temple … had a career-high eight tackles and a half tackle for loss vs. Texas Tech … finished with four tackles and a sack for a loss of two yards at Arizona.

2016: Appeared in all 13 games for Houston, while making five starts with his first start in a road win at Cincinnati … had four tackles and a quarterback hurry in a home win over UCF … had three tackles and a pass breakup in a road loss at SMU … tallied four tackles and a fumble recovery for a game-winning 24-yard touchdown in a win over Tulsa … had three tackles and two quarterback hurries vs. UConn.

2015: Appeared in all 14 games primarily on special teams … only true freshman to appear in all 14 games, was one of just three true freshmen to see action … sixth on the team with six special teams tackles, all coming on kickoff coverage … notched first career sack in win over Texas State … recorded his first career tackle in his collegiate debut against Tennessee Tech.

High School: Named to the 2013 district 21-5A all-district first team as a tight end … two-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … also a member of the North Shore High School basketball program.

Personal: Majoring in Supply Chain & Logistics Technology.

CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 11, 2x, last at Memphis (11/23/18)
Tackles for Loss: 1.5, at Memphis (11/23/18) 
Sacks: 1, 5x, last at Memphis (11/23/18)                 
Fumbles Recovered: 2, Tulsa (10/4/18)  
PBU: 1, 5x, Tulane (11/15/18)             
Interceptions: 1, 2x, last at ECU (10/13/18)
Defensive Touchdowns: 1, 2x, last at ECU (10/13/18)

There are several contributors that lead to a player’s success at the next level. The wide arrange of different scenarios factor into the overall value of each NFL Draft prospect but making an early impact and building on that foundation is solid like a rock. Those two signals, in my opinion are very significant characteristics for a player with lasting power at the next level.

Egbule did not play youth football growing up and it was not until he was in high school, he began playing organized football. It was strictly offense for his sophomore and junior seasons playing tight end. In his senior season at North Shore High School, Egbule started playing defense and in one year his impact was good enough to get him to Houston to play linebacker for the Cougars.

That is where the high IQ of the game and his fine athleticism mesh for a very complimentary prospect at the linebacker position in the National Football League.

A very versatile linebacker who can be used on all three downs. Egbule is a tough overachiever who is always around the ball. He can apply pressure off the edge and drop into man coverage and get depth in zone drops. When applying pressure, his size and strength allows him to control blockers and shows the ability to scrape off tackle. Egbule is agile, with smooth feet and stays relatively clean when searching for plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Calling a player who is has an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine really is not much of a sleeper, but in the realm of big names and high-profile prospects, Egbule is a mid-to-late round addition who will outperform those selected higher in the NFL Draft. Feel confident he will be a dependable asset in the NFL for a long time.