Unsung Oakland Raider spotlight: Isaiah Ekejiuba

January 6, 2:07 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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Ekejiuba on kickoff coverage
Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

Throughout the offseason, I will be spotlighting players on the Raiders who may never be household names, but mean a lot to the team. These are the all guts no glory type players who do the grunt work that most fans don't see. There is no better player to kick this off than special teams standout Isaiah Ekejiuba. Ekejiuba was named the third alternate for the Pro Bowl special teams position, despite never being heard of by fans outside the Raider Nation. 

Ekejiuba was added to the Raiders practice squad in 2005 after he had been cut by the Arizona Cardinals. He saw his first playing time as a special teams player for the Raiders during that same season. He made a minor name for himself during the game against the Washington Redskins where an injured 'Skin returned to the game to lay a cheap-shot on Ekejiuba. However, the 'Skin got the 15 yard penalty and was out for the rest of the game.

Since then, Ekejiuba has been with the Raiders toiling mostly in obscurity on special teams. Jarrod Cooper was the special teams captian for most of Ekejiuba's tenure, and got much of the glory for his big hits, but it was the trio of Ekejiuba, Coop, and Ricky Brown that made up the core of the Raiders special teams. As a trio they called themselves the "Bermuda Triangle" becuase returners would get in, but they would not get out.

With Coop retiring prior to the 2008 season and Ricky Brown ascending to a starting linebacker position, it was up to Ekejiuba to continue the grunt work on special teams. Ekejiuba and the rest of the special teams responded, and the Raiders special teams as a whole were the biggest bright spot on the 08 team. Johnnie Lee Higgins and Justin Miller got the glory for combining for five return touchdowns, but it was the blocks from Ekejiuba and his fellow special teams players that paved the way for those scores.

Ekejiuba will never be a household name, but he is a very good role-player for the Oakland Raiders. Ekejiuba will be a free agent soon, and resigining him will be a low cost high return type contract. He deserves to be rewarded for his play on the field.