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Ezekial "Ziggy" Ansah has gone on a meteoric rise that has taken him from Ghana and now landed him in Detroit with the fifth pick in the draft.
The night started with Ziggy getting his hair done. He had been known with a bit of an afro that was looking wild, but tonight he got it worked for his big night.
Ziggy's hair got tight for tonight: RT @byucougars "#Ziggy interviewed on the Red Carpet at the #NFLDraft! " — Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) April 25, 2013
He put into some tight cornrows. This might not have put him over the top, but for a long time the Lions were rumored to have an eye on the BYU product. The fifth pick seemed like a long shot and an impossibility months ago, but when the pick came up it was all too real.
The Lions brought up their legendary running back Barry Sanders to announce the pick and he stepped up to read the envelope.
Barry Sanders announces the Lions No. 5 overall pick, Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU. #DETPick — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 26, 2013
The man who took him from not knowing pads, to "go hit him" and now the fifth pick, Bronco Mendenhall was there in New York to join in the festivities.
Bronco just gave Ziggy a huge bro hug after being selected 5th overall by the Detroit Lions. — KYLE F GUNTHER (@GuntherKFAN) April 26, 2013
He joined another BYU legend in draft position, a former Super Bowl champion, Jim McMahon.
Ezekiel Ansah is 2nd BYU player drafted in top 5. Other was Jim McMahon at No. 5 in 1982. #DETPick — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 26, 2013
His fashion style brought up some thought provoking tweets, he was wearing some interesting shades that evoked jokes about him seeing the draft in 3D.
"Also, Oblivion in 3D was awesome today." -Ansah — Russillo (@ryenarussillo) April 26, 2013
And then, there he was. Standing on the stage with his No. 1 jersey in blue and silver getting the chance to show off his upside.
There he is, the newest Detroit Lion! #Ziggy with legendary Lion Barry Sanders and the commissioner Roger Goodell twitter.com/BYUcougars/sta — BYUcougars.com (@BYUcougars) April 26, 2013
But, could his upside fail? There are still some questions about upside compared to production.
When's the last time a pass rusher with less than 5 sacks went in the top 5? — Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) April 26, 2013
In the end there was mostly smiles. It seemed that they were overall winners on the night.
Great pick by the Lions. They nailed it. Best of the draft so far. — Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) April 26, 2013
> The Lions love that Ziggy can collapse the edge with power.. Forces QBs to step up into Failey, Suh. > > — Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) [April 26, 2013](https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks/status/327586166180286464)
And there should be no one happier with the pickup of an outside rusher than the Lions other African defensive lineman, the man named Suh.
From Ghana to Detroit, welcome my African brother! Lets do work! #Lions — Ndamukong Suh (@ndamukong_suh) April 26, 2013
Now Ansah is part of the system. He has a chance to show what he can do for the Lions and his number is already set.
Ansah will wear No. 94. #lionsdraft — Detroit Lions (@DetroitLionsNFL) April 26, 2013
