UNT Mean Green Eagles in the USFL: E.J. Ejiya

The University of North Texas (UNT) Eagles’ E.J. Ejiya is the one and only player from the Denton, Texas campus to represent the Mean Green in the United States Football League (USFL) this season.

Ejiya, 26, was selected by the Pittsburgh Maulers in the 21st round of the 2022 USFL Draft.

The 6-3, 231-pound linebacker from Blaine, Minnesota began his collegiate career at North Dakota State College of Science before transferring to UNT after his 2015 junior college season.

As a redshirt sophomore for the Mean Green in 2016, Ejiya appeared in 13 games and garnered 43 tackles (26 solo).

In 2017, Ejiya started all 14 games for the Mean Green and led UNT in total tackles with 109 (51 solo) along with seven sacks and a forced fumble.

He once again led the team in total tackles in 2018 with 121 (60 solo) while also garnering 11 quarterback hurries, nine sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked extra point over 13 games.

After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Ejiya signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens on April 28 and appeared in four preseason games (three tackles, one sack) before being waived during final roster cuts on Aug. 31.

He also spent a brief amount of time in The Spring League (TSL) after signing a contract with the Aviators on May 15, 2021.

Bringing us to the 2022 USFL season, where Ejiya racked up 42 total tackles (25 solo) this year for the Maulers.

Fun facts: Ejiya helped lead his junior college team to an 8-3 record and divisional championship in 2015 as North Dakota SCS also garnered an appearance in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference state championship. He also ranks second in UNT program history in career tackles for loss (40.5) and is the school’s leader in a single season in tackles for loss (25.0 in 2018).

Due up next in a USFL profile snapshot: a closer look at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Keith Gibson Jr.