NFL Draft Scout
Featured In/On:
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Name: Eku Leota (+) Coming off 2023 Calf INJ/10-01-22 Pectoral INJ/Out for 2022...Transfer from Northwestern College: Auburn
Number: 55
School Bio/Stats Link: HERE
Height: 6-3 Weight: 263 Position: Pos2: OLB
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2023 40 Low: 4.74 40 Time: 4.84 40 High: 4.93
> Projected Round: Stock:
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Data Scout Notes: X-Down to HPFA/Pro-Draft INJ...Recheck/May be Co-Starter in 2022 2022: NAC...(+) Coming off 10-01-22 Pectoral INJ/Out for 2022...2021: NAC...2020: Transfer from Northwestern...HMC...23 TT, 10 TFL, 7 SCK, 6 QBH, FF in 13 gms in '21. Announced transfer from Northwestern to Auburn on Feb 3 '21. Was 250 in '20. HM All-Big Ten, Media 3rd team All-Big Ten w/13 TT, 5.5 TFL, 4 SCK, 4 QBH, FF in 1 st, 8 gms in '20. Wore #53 in '19. Backup w/12 TT, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 SCK, PBU, 2 QBH, FF in 10 gms in '19. Was 239 in '18. Redshirted in '18.
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Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6030
Weight: 263
Zybek PD3X AKA "Official" 40 Yard Dash (ET):
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225 Lb. Bench Reps:
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No Workout-Leg INJ
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Dates: 03/21/23
Hand: 09 1/2 Arm: 33 1/2 Wingspan: 79 3/4
Height: 6030
Weight: 263
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+11 LBs/No Workout-Calf INJ
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Eku Leota, Auburn, Player News
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Auburn will be without one of its top pass-rushers for the remainder of the year. Eku Leota was ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a pec injury during Auburn's loss to LSU last weekend, coach Bryan Harsin confirmed Monday. Leota will u ndergo surgery Tuesday. "Eku's a big loss, and this has nothing to do with anybody behind him; it's just he's an emotional leader, he's one of the smartest football players we have," Harsin said. "I mean, he is a guy that you want on your team - how he p repares, all the things he does, the respect he has of his team." Leota sustained the injury late in the first quarter of Auburn's 21-17 loss at Jordan-Hare Stadium and did not return to the field.Upon exiting the game, he retreated to the locker room with team trainers, and when he emerged from the tunnel early in the second quarter, he was in street clothes and had his right arm in a sling. He spent the remainder of the game sitting on the training table on Auburn's sideline. The 6-foot-4, 257- pound senior has been Auburn's second-most productive pass rusher this season. He's tied with Colby Wooden for second on the team in sacks, with two, to go along with 17 total tackles, five for a loss and three quarterback hurries. A former transfer from Northwestern, Leota is in his second season on the Plains. He was one of the team's most productive edge rushers last season, when he finished with 23 total tackles, but 10 for a loss and seven sacks, to go along with eight quarterback hurries and a for ced fumble. - Birmingham News
(DS#32 DE) Sr/2023 DE Eku Leota, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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Eku Leota posted 23 tackles, ten tackles for loss, and seven sacks for Auburn last season after playing the previous two years for Northwestern of the Big Ten. Leota took a while to adapt to the rigors of playing in the Southeastern Conference. He didn't get to participate in spring football last year. He missed out on time in the weight room since he didn't arrive to the Plains until July, which put him at a disadvantage. Last season, Leota put up numbers and made life easier for fellow EDGE rusher Der ick Hall. Leota's prowess makes it difficult for offenses to double-team Hall, who made the pre-season all-SEC coaches team. Getting playing time last season was tough for Leota. Auburn had T.D. Moultry and others on the team were ahead of the 6?4 256 po under.Leota managed four starts and did well in his snaps. Now, he's expecting to be a leader on a team that needs to perform well on defense. "My expectation is that we're going to have a lot of sacks and a lot of pressures," Leota said. We have a lot of pass rushers on this team. We have a secondary that can lock people up, which gives us more time to get to the quarterback. I feel like this year; we are building a lot of chemistry on the defense since the start of pre-season practice." Leota h as put on around 10 pounds of muscle. He told reporters that he was more a finesse pass-rusher earlier in his career. He's hoping the added strength will make him a better rusher since teams will have to fear his bullrush as much as his speedy moves. "I really want to work on being more consistent with my power moves," Leota said. I feel like I'm more of a finesse guy, but I really need to be more consistent with the speed to power as well, especially in the SEC because those guys are big." - Birmingham News
(DS#32 DE) Sr/2023 DE Eku Leota, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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The first commitment of the Harsin era at Auburn, Leota joins the Tigers as a proven commodity when it comes to pass rushers. Leota only played in eight games for the Wildcats in 2021 - he did not play against Auburn in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl - but he stil l managed to be the team's leader in sacks (4) and was fourth in tackles for loss (5.5). The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Leota comes to Auburn with a chance to start right away. While Derick Hall seems to have a firm grasp on one of the starting EDGE positions, the other one appears up for grabs. Leota will undoubtedly be one of several Tigers vying for that role once the team reconvenes in the summer. - Opelika-Auburn News
(DS#32 DE) Sr/2023 DE Eku Leota, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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While Eku Leota did not play in the Citrus Bowl, he was on the roster of the team that most recently beat Auburn, the Northwestern Wildcats. Leota played eight games in 2020 and while he made just 13 tackles, he recorded four sacks and was named to the A ll-Big Ten third team. In his two seasons as a Wildcat, he recorded 6.5 sacks. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end announced Saturday that he planned to graduate transfer to Auburn. Leota is originally from North Carolina. He played just two seasons at Northwestern, one of which does not count against his eligibility. "A graduate transfer here but a guy that's all about the fit, the culture and things that we talked about here, his development, being part of this program and wanting to be here," Harsi n said. "It was good to get to know him and his family. We're looking forward to him being a guy on the edge for us that can provide that pass-rush. He's a very good player, developed, will have his degree and has three years to come in here and be a par t of this program." - Birmingham News
(DS#32 DE) Sr/2023 DE Eku Leota, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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Auburn is turning to the transfer portal to bulk up its defensive line. Former Northwestern defensive end Eku Leota committed to Auburn on Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Leota just completed his sophomore season with the Wildcats. Leota appeared in ei ght games for Northwestern in 2020 and racked up 13 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. Leota contributed to a Northwestern defense that ranked fifth in the nation by only allowing 15.9 points during a season in which the Wildcats went 7-2. - Opelika-Auburn News
(DS#32 DE) Sr/2023 DE Eku Leota, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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2020 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Eku Leota,...Leota leads Northwestern with four sacks on the season, he is also seventh in the Big Ten in both total and solo sacks. He is also only one of three Wildcats to force a fumble this seaso n, joining Fisher and Gallagher. In Northwestern's victory over Purdue, Leota posted 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. He became the first to post multiple sacks and a forced fumble in the same game since 2016. - Northwestern Football
(DS#32 DE) Sr/2023 DE Eku Leota, Auburn
News Source: Northwestern Football
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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