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When the 2013 NFL Draft gets underway Thursday night from New York City, it won't be long before BYU DE Ziggy Ansah hears his name called by Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Ziggy's story has been well chronicled over the past few months; from not knowing how to put on football pads, to becoming a guaranteed first-round draft pick in the National Football League.
Draft analysts are all amazed at what Ziggy has been able to accomplish in such a short period of time. ESPN's Mel Kiper said he has never seen anything like this in his 35 years of covering the NFL Draft.
To put it in perspective: BYU has only had nine players taken in the first round of the NFL Draft--10 if you include Steve Young going #1 overall in the NFL Supplemental Draft in 1984. When Ziggy is selected on Thursday night, he will most likely be the second-highest Cougar taken, behind Jim McMahon, who was drafted at #5. I believe there's also a scenario where Ziggy could surpass McMahon, and go third overall to the Raiders. Oakland spent a lot of one-on-one time with Ansah during BYU's Pro Day in March.
BYU 1st Round NFL Draft Picks
| Player | Year | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Morris | 2000 | 1 | 28 | Colts |
| John Tait | 1999 | 1 | 14 | Chiefs |
| Shawn Knight | 1987 | 1 | 11 | Saints |
| Jason Buck | 1987 | 1 | 17 | Bengals |
| Trevor Matich | 1985 | 1 | 28 | Patriots |
| Steve Young *Supplemental Draft* | 1984 | 1 | 1 | Buccaneers |
| Gordon Hudson | 1984 | 1 | 22 | Seahawks |
| Todd Shell | 1984 | 1 | 24 | 49ers |
| Jim McMahon | 1982 | 1 | 5 | Bears |
| Marc Wilson | 1980 | 1 | 15 | Raiders |
While everyone is focused on the football aspects of what Ziggy has accomplished, the thing that makes him rare in my eyes is the fact that he isn't getting swept up in all the hype. I'm sure a lot of that comes from the fact that he didn't grow up around this type of thing.
Growing up in Ghana, Ziggy didn't have access to the NFL like we do. He didn't grow up watching football every Sunday, and dreaming of throwing the game-winning touchdown for his favorite team (BTW, my QB rating was through the roof). In fact, Ziggy once told me that he didn't have a favorite NFL team -- it just wasn't a big deal.
For most of us, me included, the mere thought of being able to play in the NFL would be more excitement than we could handle; Ziggy is just the opposite. To this point, nothing seems to rattle him. The bright lights of the NFL combine didn't bother him; neither did the grueling workouts NFL personnel people put him through during BYU's Pro day.
There is no doubt that Ziggy's background is the main reason he seems to have things figured out. In a sports society where everyone is a self-promoter, Ziggy chooses to talk quietly and comes across somewhat shy. While people around him want to hear how excited he is about his future, Ansah just wants play it low-key. If you think about it, maybe Ziggy is able to handle all the attention because it isn't what defines him.
Ziggy is a rare modern athlete -- and that's a good thing. While he stands to make a lot of money for himself and his family, he knows that football is not necessary for him to successful. With a degree in Actuarial Science, Ziggy has proven that his mind is just as strong as his body.
Regardless of where he ends up on Thursday, Ziggy has prepared himself to be successful -- on the football field and in life.
