Bills sign LB Liam Ezekiel as an UDFA

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Liam Ezekiel
Inside Linebacker
Northeastern

Ezekiel has been an absolute terror in the middle of the NU defense since he arrived on campus. NU's all-time leading tackler, Ezekiel was named a first team Preseason All-American by Athlon Sports, Street & Smith's, Lindy's and the Sports Network, as well as an Atlantic-10 Preseason All-Conference First Teamer.

Northeastern's Liam Ezekiel of Arlington, a three-time All-American linebacker, went undrafted but was negotiating a free-agent contract with the Buffalo Bills last night.

``We're in the process of working some things out,'' the 6-foot-1, 245-pound Ezekiel said. ``It was tough to watch the draft the last couple of days and not seeing my name up there, but I just want to get an opportunity to get into a camp. They have good linebackers, and hopefully I can make the active roster and learn from those guys.''

>Ezekiel served as NU's long-snapper the past two seasons in an effort to improve his NFL chances.

``Anything that can help me make that team, I'll do whatever,'' Ezekiel said. ``I spoke to the linebacker coach up there and he said I'd have the same opportunity as the other guys trying to compete for the same spot. I just have to prove myself up there once again.''

ANALYSIS

Positives: He is one of the toughest (played the last five weeks of 2002 with a broken thumb) and strongest (400-pound bench) players to ever don the Red and Black.

INJURY REPORT

No injuries reported.

AGILITY

Combine -- 4.81 seconds in 40-yard dash … 36 bench reps at 225 pounds … 34½ vertical jump … 9-foot-10 broad jump … 4.12 shuttle run … 7.29 three-cone drill … 28 Wonderlic score.

HIGH SCHOOL

Lettered in football, basketball and track at Arlington High … made record 21 tackles in a single game and had 115 tackles in one season … finished high school career with a school-record 450 tackles … named Team MVP and a league all-star as a sophomore, junior and senior … named all-state as a junior and senior … named all-scholastic by the Boston Herald and Boston Globe … named to all-state select 22 team as a senior.

PERSONAL

Born Oct. 30, 1982 … Criminal Justice major … grandfather played football at Wyoming … Class of 2006.