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Memphis’ Obinna Eze continues to rely on faith to get through a difficult year
Tigers’ offensive lineman, Obinna Eze prepares for the snap during the Cotton Bowl. The former four-star recruit has been the Tigers’ starting left tackle since 2019. (Courtesy: @MajorBusquet/Twitter)

Memphis’ Obinna Eze continues to rely on faith to get through a difficult year

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BVM)– In times of so much stress and tragedy, there is a strong need for something to cling to. That something that makes getting up in the morning easier or to take one’s mind off of the chaos. Whether it be because of social issues, the rampant outbreaks of COVID-19 throughout the world or even just the pressure of juggling Zoom meetings, 2020 has been a year that is unlike any other.

For Memphis Tigers’ offensive tackle Obinna Eze, he finds strength in his faith. Since his days as a child in Nigeria, Eze has been strong in his beliefs in God which has continued to help guide him through his college career.

“I think that faith helps me to go outside without many distractions,” Eze said. “Just looking at how much I have sacrificed to be able to play football and to work hard for me and my family and just to see all of that be taken away by coronavirus kinda put certain thoughts through your head.”

Eze has a lot riding on this season, as he finds himself with a lot of expectations during his redshirt junior year. He has been the starting left tackle for the Tigers for the last two seasons and is NFL Draft eligible if he chooses to declare.

Though he has not made any decisions about his future, he knows what it is like to carry a lot of expectations. Before joining the Tigers in 2017, Eze was a four-star recruit, even though he had limited football playing experience.

As a part of a program to play basketball in the United States, Eze came to Nashville to play for Davidson Academy in 2015. From there, he began his football career and was instantly given a lot of attention. He had been recruited by college football powerhouses such as LSU and Alabama, but eventually committed to Memphis.

Eze came to the United States as a raw athletic talent, but over the past three years has been able to establish himself as one of the key players in the Tigers offense. (Courtesy: @MAJORBUSQUET/Twitter)

Despite Memphis not being in a Power Five conference, the Tigers were an easy choice for Eze because it gave him the feeling of home.    

“All other schools offered me big-time football and education, but Memphis offered me football education and life,” Eze said. “They gave me a realistic look at life after football. Other schools had two big things, but Memphis had multiple little things that count for a lot.”

So, three years later, Eze has gone from a raw, undeveloped talent to an established and well-respected starter.

“I think that I have grown a lot,” Eze said. “Seeing that I haven’t been playing football long, I think I’ve grown in my IQ of the game. It’s been an all-around development for me as I get a better feel for the game.”

However, as much as he has grown professionally, he has taken more pride in how he has bettered himself off of the field. As mentioned, his faith is a major part of his character and with that faith and his hard work, he is determined to reach new heights.

“My faith is my moral compass,” Eze said. “My sense of right and wrong is determined by the mercy and grace of God and what he teaches in the Bible. So, if I’m leaning towards God through the Bible and then obviously that’s where I am going to get my character. I’m not right, I’m not perfect but I just continue to draw closer to God and it changes who I am.”

To be fair, there have been a lot closer factors that have been affecting Eze’s season too. The Tigers underwent a head coaching change earlier in the year. Former head coach, Mike Norvell left to coach Florida State. Instead of going with an outside hire, the Tigers decided to promote offensive line coach, Ryan Silverfield to the head position.

Eze was one of the biggest advocates for Silverfield to take over as head coach and despite his early season hiccups, he has seen that Silverfield is going to do big things for the program.

“With this being his first year, of course there is going to highs and lows,” Eze said. “I think it is really unfair to be a first-year head coach in the middle of COVID. Even 20year coaches are struggling, but I think the way that he has been able to handle things and navigate through coronavirus and navigate team problems.”

One of those lows was the three-week layoff that the Tigers had from playing early in the season. Following their opening game against Arkansas State, the team suffered through a COVID outbreak. This led to their game against UTSA to be canceled and their conference matchup against Houston to be postponed.

That lack of playing was a difficult thing to overcome for Tigers, especially because they are the defending champions of the American Athletic Conference. Eze was one of those players who took the break hard, not just because he likes winning, but because of him missing the team comradery.

“The truth is that we play for each other,” Eze said. “We missed football and I have a lot of teammates who love football and love to hang out with each other. Having that time to spend together in the locker room is a huge part of being a football player and when all of that is taken away from you, it is not very hard to find motivation to want to go back to life as it used to be.”

Now, it may be some time before the world goes back to normal, but Eze has his faith to hold him over in the meantime.

“There are no accidents with God,” Eze said. “All I know is that whatever came out of the virus, I knew that God had my best interest at heart. That just gave me peace to go out there and do my work like I usually do.”