Former Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie has signed his rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Blessings https://t.co/m7qomFyX0q
— Dr. Arnold Ebiketie (@A7chronic) July 13, 2022
The deal is for four years and is $9.69 million.
Ebiketie was drafted in the second round, 38th overall this past April. He’s expected to start on a rebuilding Falcons defense, joining third-round pick DeAngelo Malone and free agent acquisition Lorenzo Carter.
Ebiketie is a 6-foot-3, 255-pound edge rusher who was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, and graduated from Albert Einstein High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he recorded 21.5 sacks in his senior year.
Ebiketie, a former three-star recruit, played four years at Temple before transferring to Penn State as a graduate senior for the 2021 season.
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He made an immediate impact for Penn State, starting all 13 games and recording 62 tackles (34 solo), 9.5 sacks 18 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. His efforts earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors, as well as a second-team All-American by the Athletic, the Football Writers Association of America and Phil Steele in his lone season in Happy Valley.
At Temple in 2020, Ebiketie recorded 42 tackles (8.5 for loss), four sacks and three forced fumbles as he was named a second-team All-AAC selection.
Ebiketie will look to help turn around a unit that finished 29th in total defense in 2021. The Falcons also recorded the fewest sacks in the league with just 17.
Twitter: @bwalkerdadon
