Fresno State Athletics
Ederaine Looks to Cap "Fun" Career Saturday
11/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2015
By Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - If you are not having fun, you are doing something wrong. That quote from well-known comedian Groucho Marx perfectly characterize Fresno State senior outside linebacker Ejiro Ederaine.
Known as a laid-back, easy-going guy, Ederaine has certainly had a lot of fun during his Bulldog career. Never one to be short of words, the Corona, Calif., native has undeniably let his play on the field speak volumes this season.
Thanks to his father, a Nigerian native, Ederaine got his athletic career started as a child playing soccer before first being introduced to football in the seventh grade. After taking a few years to warm up to the sport, he became a two-year starter at linebacker at Santiago High School earning a pair of all-conference honors and developed a strong passion and hunger for the game.
Looking to continue playing collegiately at the Division I level, he attracted interest from Fresno State and former Bulldog head coach Pat Hill and after taking his official visit was sold on the idea of becoming a `Dog.
"I enjoyed the family feel I got when I came on my visit, which was something I loved," said Ederaine.
After deciding to commit to being a Bulldog, it was not long before coach Hill and his staff was let go, but the school continued to honor its commitment. After meeting Tim DeRuyter and liking what he saw, he knew the Valley was the place he wanted to be.
After seeing limited playing time as a true freshman in 2012, Ederaine burst onto the scene as a sophomore earning second-team All-Mountain West honors after posting 63 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks while helping the `Dogs win the Mountain West Championship.
Ederaine used that first year in a reserve role to learn how to be a complete player and credits the veterans who came before him for teaching how to lead.
"To be a great player, it is all about preparation," explains Ederaine. "The outside (fans, media) look at what you do on the field on Saturday, but the biggest part is Monday through Friday. When I was younger, I looked at what guys like Donavon Lewis were doing during the week and tried to follow them. I learned how to be a veteran and that definitely helped."
Despite being hampered by a shoulder injury as a junior, he continued to lead the defense as the `Dogs claimed the MW Western division crown and make their third-straight bowl game. Returning to full health this fall entering his final campaign, Ederaine has capped his career with an outstanding senior campaign leading the team in tackles (91), tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (9.0) along with nabbing a pair of interceptions and forcing a fumble.
Finding himself climbing up the career record books in many defensive categories at Fresno State, Ederaine enters his final game as a Bulldogs on Saturday against Colorado State eyeing another record as he sits only 2.5 tackles for loss away from matching the Mountain West conference record for TFL's.
"I don't think about it too much," said Ederaine on the record. "It is something I want to do though for all of my teammates that I played with on defense at Fresno State and for my family. It would be a nice way to end the season and is definitely a team award, because I would not get a tackle for loss if everybody was not doing their job and this record can be a bright spot for the team."
While accomplishing the MW record would put the exclamation mark on an outstanding career, Ederaine looks at his Bulldog career as a whole with no regrets.
"It has been a great ride and has taught me a lot of lifelong lessons," said Ederaine on his time as a Bulldog. "The biggest thing I am going to end my career with is that every play I was on the field, I gave it my all and am going to walk away with no regrets. My career has been a great one and a lot of fun full of positive memories."
When rewinding his career, two memories from his sophomore year stick out the most for him. The first came at San Diego State where he returned a fumble 78 yards for a touchdown in a 35-28 win in overtime to keep the `Dogs perfect season intact and the other highlight came a week earlier at home against UNLV getting a timely sack.
With his time as a `Dog coming to an end Saturday, Ederaine knows his emotions will be running high, but is ready to play at Bulldog Stadium one final time.
"I will be really happy," said Ederaine on the pregame festivities. "I don't think I will be sad or it will hit me that my Bulldog career is over until after the game."
Planning to continue training to pursue a career in the National Football League next spring, Ederaine hopes to use his degree in criminology-law enforcement once football is over.
Much like his Bulldog career, whether it is in the NFL or serving in law enforcement, whatever Ederaine's future holds, he will most certainly have fun while doing it.
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