Austin Ekeler is a professional American football player who plays as a running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL).
He has set several NFL records, such as the most receptions by a running back in a single game (15) and the most receiving yards by an undrafted running back in a single season (993).
Who is Austin Ekeler?
Austin Ekeler was born on May 17, 1995 in Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
He attended Eaton High School in Eaton, Colorado, where he played high school football for The Fightin’ Reds.
He was a four-year letterer and starter for the Fightin’ Reds; despite being only 5’5 as a freshman, Ekeler rushed for 454 yards and 8 touchdowns on 70 carries.
By the end of his career, Ekeler amassed 5,232 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns (39 of which came from his senior year alone) on 561 carries, averaging 9.15 yards-per-carry, with another 581 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Despite this performance, Ekeler was a zero-star recruit who saw practically no interest from any division one school.
Wyoming recruited him but never offered him a scholarship, and his only scholarship offers came from Adams State, Chadron State, Oklahoma Panhandle State, and Western Colorado University.
However, the first three universities wanted to switch him to the defensive side of the ball; Western Colorado was the only school to offer him at the tailback position.
Austin Ekeler is a remarkable player who has overcome many challenges and achieved great success in his career. Here are some of the highlights of his journey:
He started playing football at Eaton High School in Colorado, where he was a four-year starter and rushed for over 5,000 yards and 71 touchdowns.
He received no scholarship offers from any Division I schools, so he enrolled at Western State, a Division II school in Colorado.
There, he became a four-time First-team All-RMAC selection and set school records for rushing yards, all-purpose yards, and touchdowns.
He went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, but signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as a free agent.
He impressed the coaches with his versatility and work ethic, and made the final roster as the fourth running back.
He had his breakout season in 2019, when he stepped up as the starter while Melvin Gordon was holding out.
He finished the season with 1,550 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns, and became the first undrafted running back to have over 900 receiving yards in a single season.
He signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract extension with the Chargers in 2020, making him one of the highest-paid running backs in the league.
He continued to be a dual-threat weapon for the Chargers in 2021 and 2022, posting over 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in each season.
He also set an NFL record for the most receptions by a running back in a single game with 15 catches against the Denver Broncos in Week 17 of the 2022 season.
He became an owner of two teams in the Fan Controlled Football league, the Wild Aces and the Shoulda Been Stars, in 2021.
He also hosts a podcast called The Austin Ekeler Show, where he interviews other NFL players and celebrities.
Austin Ekeler has had a turbulent 2023 season so far. He requested a trade in the offseason, but stayed with the Chargers after they added $1.75 million in incentives to his contract.
He has been struggling to find his rhythm on the ground, averaging only 2.57 yards per carry since returning from an ankle injury.
However, he has been a reliable receiver for Justin Herbert, catching 107 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns.
He also set a new NFL record for the most receptions by a running back in a single game with 15 catches against the Broncos.
Austin Ekeler Wife
Austin Ekeler is not married, but he has a fiancée named Melanie Wilking.
She is a talented dancer and a TikTok celebrity who has over three million followers on the platform.
She and her sister Miranda are known as the Wilking Sisters and have performed with famous artists like Bruno Mars and Selena Gomez.
She also supports Ekeler’s career as a running back for the Los Angeles Chargers and often attends his games.
Austin Ekeler Children
Austin Ekeler does not have any children.
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