FREE: Exclusive Spring Camp Interview with WR Jeff Ejekam
Will Ejekam Be Able To Pick Up The Slack?
From a weather perspective, Army head coach Jeff Monken and the Black Knights’ squad could not ask for a more comfortable day to open their spring training camp on Monday, as the returning players made their way onto Howze Field in helmets, jerseys and shorts.
One of the returning seniors-to-be is wide receiver Jeff Ejekam, who surely will be called upon my the coaching staff to take a more active leadership role on this 2017 squad. But, if you know anything about No. 81, no one really has to ask him to step up .... it’s just his God-given temperament.
Ejekam was listed at the top of the depth chart at Wide Receiver last season, but he was the receiver that shared time with the tight end; so Ejekam had 9 starts although he appeared in all 13 games in 2016. He had 9 receptions for 110 yards. He also appeared in 9 games in 2015, but did not figure statistically.
We view the Houston (TX) product to be one of the most underrated players on last year’s team, as many of GoBlackKnights.com subscribers expect the 6-foot-2, 205 pounder to have a breakout 2017 campaign; so GBK decided to get his perspective on the challenge.
GBK: Although Edgar Poe was the team MVP for the 2015 season and appeared to be the go to guy in 2016, many observers feel that you were just as capable. That being said, provide us a self-assessment of Jeff's skills.
Ejekam: Like you said, I do feel like I have a lot of upside and I have a lot to offer. It’s my job to show the coaches that I can be that go to guy and I’d love to be that go to guy and to be able to help my team no matter what. So, I have to show the coaches so that they will have the trust in me to be that guy.
As of right now, I feel that I can fill that role that Edgar did. Those are big shoes, and I’m up for the challenge and I know that people behind me and next to me like Christian Poe, Jermaine Adams, Luke Peterman and Glen Coates ... they’re going to push me. We’re going to have a solid unit and like you said, we only lost Edgar and he set the threshold for us and we are going to try and break that threshold.
GBK: Keith Gaither is gone. How are you adjusting to the style of new receiver’s coach David Corley?
Ejekam: He’s a phenomenal coach, phenomenal person overall and he’s gelled with the group very fast. We enjoy his company and it’s amazing how fast he’s learning the offense with him being here just a short period of time. I’m looking forward to closing my time here with him.
GBK: You are obviously a vocal type player - what NFL player do you think your temperament resembles most?
Ejekam: To be honest with you, personality wise .... I feel I have a pretty unique personality. And so, if I would say overall in how they carried themselves or how they present themselves, I would say that I look a lot into DeAndre Hopkins being from Houston (TX).
I really love the way he plays the game and I feel like he resembles my type of game. He just carries himself very well. But, the thing about him is that he will be humble ... but if someone comes at him incorrectly, he will let them know about it and he fixes the problem which is what I like about him. It’s not in a disrespectful way and showing them that he’s not going to back down and I feel like I’m that kind of guy. Very hungry guy, and you have to be hungry and humble.
So, personality wise and even game wise I feel that I replicate guys like DeAndre Hopkins and old head like Anquan Boldin and I really love watching those guys ... the route running and just in how they carry themselves. They are very professional about the things that they do.
GBK: How does it feel to be back on the field, especially coming off of such a successful 2016 season?
Ejekam: It’s very exciting just to see the ceiling that we sat last year and just to know that it can be even better ... that is so fulfilling and motivates you to get back out here and to go harder. Why not bust your tail to go do something like that. We had a great record last year, but it can be even better because he had five loses and we can turn those five into none.
I am really looking forward to playing with this band of brothers. Especially being a leader on this team this, it’s going to be awesome. Also test what type of leadership I have and how this senior group is going to lead. The last senior group left a pretty good legacy and it’s our turn to improve that legacy and lead this Army brotherhood as we should.
GBK: Final question .... how good can this offense be in 2017?
Ejekam: It’s light’s out from here. We will find out and we’ll be clicking on all cylinders. We are ready to rock and roll.
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