Alonzo Ephraim
{{Short description|American football player (born 1981)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image =
| number = 50, 76, 63, 58
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|11|8}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 312
| high_school = Wenonah (Birmingham)
| college = Alabama
| undraftedyear = 2003
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2004}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2005}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2006}})
- New York Dragons ({{AFL Year|2007|2008}})
- Team Alabama (2008)*
| highlights =
- Second-team All-American (2002)
- 2× First-team All-SEC (2001, 2002)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 43
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 5
| aflstatlabel1 = Total tackles
| aflstatvalue1 = 2
| afl = 10556
| pfr = EphrAl20
}}
Alonzo Brandon Ephraim (born November 8, 1981) is an American former professional football who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Ephraim was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003. In 2006, while with the Cleveland Browns, he was suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy,{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2551170 |title=Browns center Ephraim suspended four games |work=ESPN.com |publisher=Associated Press |date=August 16, 2008 |access-date=October 20, 2008}} after which he was waived by the Browns.
On July 27, 2007, Ephraim signed with the All American Football League to play for Team Alabama when the league began play.{{cite web|url=http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/BirminghamsigningsPR.html |title=ALL AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF FORMER ALABAMA PLAYERS DURING LEAGUE'S NATIONAL TRY-OUT AT BIRMINGHAM'S LEGION FIELD |work=All-American Football League.com |publisher=PRNewswire |date=July 27, 2007 |accessdate=October 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007144138/http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/BirminghamsigningsPR.html |archivedate=October 7, 2008 |url-status=dead }}
Early life
Ephraim attended Wenonah High School,{{cite web |url=http://alabama.scout.com/a.z?s=14&p=8&c=1&nid=389458 |title=#58 Alonzo Ephraim - Alabama Roster |work=Scout.com |publisher=BamaMag.com |accessdate=October 20, 2008}} where he played center on offense and defensive end on defense.{{cite web |url=http://uga.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=293259 |title=Alonzo Ephraim Update |work=Rivals.com |publisher=BamaOnline News Plus |date=May 16, 1998 |accessdate=October 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715190751/http://uga.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=293259 |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} He was also the starting center on the school's basketball team. He was on the baseball and track teams as well. In 1998, as a senior he was selected as the Class 6A Offensive Lineman of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.ahsfhs.org/allstate/allstateteam2.asp?year=1998 |title=1998 Awards - Other Awards |accessdate=October 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724230254/http://www.ahsfhs.org/allstate/allstateteam2.asp?year=1998 |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He was a Super 12 (All-State) team Honorable Mention, along with future college teammates Dante Ellington and Saleem Rasheed. When he graduated he had a 3.2 GPA.
College career
Ephraim received interest from schools such as Alabama, Michigan, UCLA, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Nebraska. In the end, he chose Alabama. As a true freshman, he appeared in just two games, for a total of 29 plays. He then played as a back-up for every game as a sophomore. He became a starter as a junior, and had 708 plays that season, the most among Alabama offensive linemen. He also recorded 118 knock-down blocks. He was a second-team All-America selection his senior year. He was also an All-SEC selection as a junior. As a senior, he was one of seven Alabama players selected as All-SEC.{{cite web |url=http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121202aad.html |title=Seven Bama Players Named to AP All-SEC Teams |work=RollTide.com |publisher=University of Alabama |date=December 12, 2002 |accessdate=October 20, 2008}} As a senior, he was named to the Rimington Trophy watchlist.{{cite web |url=http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091002aad.html |title=Alabama Football Game Notes: North Texas |work=RollTide.com |publisher=University of Alabama |date=September 10, 2002 |accessdate=October 20, 2008}}
Professional career
=Philadelphia Eagles=
Ephraim went unselected in the 2003 NFL draft. However, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles{{cite web |url=http://alabama.scout.com/2/107992.html |title=Nine Tiders sign free agent contracts |last=White |first=Larry |work=Scout.com |publisher=University of Alabama |date=April 28, 2003 |accessdate=October 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022604/http://alabama.scout.com/2/107992.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} and played in 16 games as a rookie. In 2004, he played in 13 games with two starts at right guard for the Eagles. He was released on April 28, 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=3984&lid=3984 |title=Camp Dolphins Day 8: Team Signs Alonzo Ephraim And Waives Derek Curry |work=MiamiDolphins.com |publisher=Miami Dolphins |date=August 2, 2005 |accessdate=October 20, 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Miami Dolphins=
On August 2, 2005, he signed with the Miami Dolphins. In his lone season with the Dolphins, he played in 13 games, with three starts.
=Cleveland Browns=
In 2006, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cleveland Browns but was suspended for four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He was waived after he completed his suspension.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/ephraim-let-go-by-browns-1.602054 |title=Ephraim let go by Browns |work=CBC.ca |publisher=CBC Sports |date=October 2, 2006 |access-date=October 20, 2008}} Over his four-year NFL career, he played in a total of 43 games.
=New York Dragons=
On April 24, 2008, Ephraim signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League and played in three games as a rookie.
=All American Football League=
At the All American Football League's national try-outs held on July 27, 2007, Ephraim, along with fellow Alabama alumni Reggie Myles and Marcus Spencer, signed with the league to play for Team Alabama. However, the league postponed their inaugural season until 2009.
See also
Notes
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090301044921/http://www.newyorkdragons.com/team/playerbios.asp?playerid=328 New York Dragons bio]}}
- [https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6652 at Yahoo! Sports bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ephraim, Alonzo}}
Category:Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama
Category:American football centers
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Miami Dolphins players