2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Ezrah Thibodeaux, DL, Texas A&M-Kingsville

• Name: Ezrah Thibodeaux
• Position: DL
• College: Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• Height: 6’3”
• Weight: 265 lbs
• Twitter: @ezo_01
• Instagram: @king.ez0

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

Being born and raised in Texas, football has been a part of my life since I was a kid. My family is from Maryland, and they are big Ravens fans, so I was brought up watching some of the greats in Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs. Watching those guys made me fall in love with the sport because I admired their passion and the way they dominated the game. What made me decide to give it a shot was my cousin Elijah. He was somebody I looked up to and wanted to be like. Watching him play in high school as a kid made me want to play too, so that is what I did.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

When we beat West Texas A&M this past season. West Texas was ranked 14th nationally at the time while we were an unranked underdog. The atmosphere in the stadium and on the sideline was tense, making it one of the best games I have been a part of. What makes it my favorite was watching my team come together like we never had before to get that win. It was tight all game so when we went out for the last drive on defense, we all knew what had to be done and did just that, forcing a game-sealing interception. After we won, everyone on our sideline started cheering and celebrating because now we and everyone else knew that the Javelinas were getting back to being the powerhouse program it once was.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

The women in my family inspire me the most. My grandma moved to Texas from Maryland to start a new life, just herself and her three kids. I cannot imagine what that must have been like and how hard it was to make that decision. She is the kindest woman you will ever meet, and she never fails to be a ray of sunshine for everyone she encounters. No matter how hard life is going for her she puts her loved ones first and I admire her for her heart. My aunt is extremely independent and smart. She always provided me with wisdom and a change of perspective when I was growing up, reminding me that I did not have to rely solely on my athletic ability to be successful. She helped me develop that sense of self beyond football and always would bring me down to earth when I got sidetracked in life. My biggest inspiration is my mother. I am extremely blessed to have a woman like her as my mom. She raised three children on her own and never once complained. She is the embodiment of a strong woman and dream chaser. There was never a time when my siblings and I went without anything we wanted, we were always provided for and taken care of. All three of us played sports and she found a way to provide for us then just like she does now, putting all of us through college at the same time. I know it was not easy for her to raise all of us on her own but her determination and will not quit attitude inspires me. She is the hardest-working person I know. If she did not complain then, how could I complain now?

What are you looking forward to in your upcoming season?

I am looking forward to playing with my guys one more time. We have built something at TAMUK that I am proud of but at the same time I am a competitor and being 7-4 in regular season play is not enough to satisfy me. I am looking forward to coming back and getting to play again with even more experience and with a chip on my shoulder. With it being my last season, my focus is getting to the playoffs and then to the national championship. I am ready to do whatever it takes to help my team get to that mountaintop because we are more than deserving of it. We have some good teams lined up for the 2023 season with a lot of rivalry games that will be exciting as well. I just want to go out with a bang as I wrap up my time at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?

Ray Lewis without a doubt. He was my favorite to watch as a kid and he was a household name in my family. I would love to pick his brain about what it took for him to get to where he is, ask him about how he was able to dominate the league for so long, and what was his driving force and motivation. I would ask him for advice as to what I should do and what I should avoid as a young man stepping into this world. I would also tell him thank you because his speeches and seminars were always eye openers and they helped me stay focused and keep that king of the jungle mentality he talks about. Then I would take a picture with him and send it to my mom. I know that would make her day for sure.

What are your favorite things about playing football for Kingsville?

A few of my favorite things about playing for Kingsville is the culture behind the program. Kingsville has always been known for being a powerhouse program. This program has won 34 conference championships and 7 national championships and not a day goes by when I am in town that I am not reminded of that. There is a sense of pride here in Kingsville that you do not find most places, especially in Division II. We all know that we are not the flashiest school or most popular, but we know that what we go through would break other teams. We are cut from a different cloth here and we have every intention to prove that to our opponents. The support we get from the city and from our alumni are huge motivators for us as a program and I would not trade it to be anywhere else now looking back on it.

What should we know about Ezrah Thibodeaux the person?

I am the son of Katrina Cox and the oldest of her 3 kids. I am a God-fearing Christian. I am a college graduate and received my bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and applied technologies. I also received a certificate in business management. I come from a part of Houston on the southwest side known as Alief. I am all about family and loyalty. I am not scared of hard work because nothing was ever just given to me, I had to earn it. I try to keep a positive outlook on life because I know where I come from, and I am grateful to be where I am at.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

My favorite is a 4-2-5 scheme. It has its weaknesses in the quick passing game without that extra linebacker in the box, but it is not hard to make an adjustment in the middle of a game to defend against those short routes. I like it because it gives the defensive line more responsibility, making it more fun for us in the trenches. In the run game, we must do more in controlling gaps and defeating blocks to make those tackles on the ground. Then in the passing game, with having that extra man in coverage the QBs have to hold the ball longer while they wait for an opening giving us on the defensive line that much more time in our pass rush. I like having more responsibility because now the game is dependent on the defensive line, letting us go wreck shop.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

The first thing I will do is I will pray on it, asking God for his strength, guidance, and wisdom. When those hard times do come, I put my head down and weather the storm until I am on the other side of it. I learned at an early age that you cannot run from hard times, you must run through them because no matter how far you run it will not make them go away. I also lean on my family for their guidance and support as well because I know they have always got my back and will support me in whatever it is I set out to do. On the football field, my family is my team and that goes both ways. They are the guys I go to when life outside of football starts to weigh on me. They keep me going and remind me that it will not last forever, and we are built for those hard times.

What would a team get in a player like you?

They would get a devoted player that will do whatever it takes to help the team succeed. A man with good work ethic who is a quick learner and can adapt to changes on the fly. I pride myself on being a student of the game, trying to learn all the ins and outs of schemes and game plans week by week. I am a physical player with a high motor that can play at a high tempo. Simply put, I am a smart football player with the strength to match. They would get a player that loves competition and dominating the game at a high-level whether it is stopping the run or interrupting the pass game.

What stands out about your film the most?

I can play any position on the defensive line and can even drop into coverage if need be. My film shows that I am good at reading an offense and reacting on the field to different formations and personnel packages. I can out physical any offensive lineman making them do what I want to the point where I am using them to secure two gaps at once and still making plays. I pursue after the ball no matter where I am on the field always trying to get in on the tackle.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

The most underrated player is Alex Smith. I met him when he transferred to Kingsville and this man has the most heart, I have seen in anyone. He plays defensive tackle and is great at what he does. The guys had two pick 6’s all while playing nose guard. That says everything already. We call him Sweet Feet because he is a big boy that is mobile and has some of the most finesse and twitch, I have seen from a defensive tackle. Not to mention he can take two offensive linemen at the same time and not move back an inch. He is definitely a sleeper.