Kingsley Eguakun
{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kingsley Eguakun
| currentteam = Detroit Lions
| number = 65
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|3|23}}
| birth_place = Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 312
| high_school = Sandalwood {{nowrap|(Jacksonville, Florida)}}
| college = Florida (2019–2023)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
| status = Active
| highlights =
| pfr = EguaKi00
}}
Kingsley Eguakun (born March 23, 2001) is an American professional football center for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators.
Early life
Eguakun attended high school at Sandalwood. Coming out of high school, Eguakun was rated as a three-star recruit where he decided to commit to play college football for the Florida Gators.{{cite web |last1=Bender |first1=Corey |title=OG Kingsley Eguakun makes the flip, teams up with the Gators |url=https://florida.rivals.com/news/og-kingsley-eguakun-makes-the-flip-teams-up-with-the-gators |website=Rivals.com |date=December 2, 2018 |access-date=February 13, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Hector |title=Three-Star OG Kingsley Eguakun Signs With Florida |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/collegefootball/2018/12/19/three-star-og-kingsley-eguakun-signs-with-florida/ |website=Last Word on Sports |date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=February 13, 2024}}
College career
In Eguakun's first season in 2019, he would redshirt and only appear in two games.{{cite web |last1=Abolverdi |first1=Zach |title=Florida Gators center Kingsley Eguakun declares for NFL Draft |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-gators/news/florida-gators-center-kingsley-eguakun-declares-for-nfl-draft/ |website=On3.com |date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024}} During the 2020 season, Eguakun played in 12 games while making no starts.{{cite magazine |last1=Carroll |first1=Brandon |title=How Does Kingsley Eguakun at Center Help the Gators Offensive Line? |url=https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-football-analysis-kingsley-eguakun-center-offensive-line |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=August 14, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2024}} Eguakun opened the 2021 season as the Gators starting center.{{cite magazine |last1=Carroll |first1=Brandon |title=Kingsley Eguakun: The Catalyst for Gators Offensive Line Improvement |url=https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-kingsley-eguakun-catalyst-offensive-line-improvement-2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2024}} Eguakun finished the 2021 season by playing in and starting all 13 games for the Gators.{{cite web |last1=Harvey |first1=Paul |title=Kingsley Eguakun, Florida OL, reveals decision on 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/florida-football/kingsley-eguakun-florida-ol-reveals-decision-on-2024-nfl-draft/ |website=Saturday Down South |date=December 3, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024}} During the 2022 season, Eguakun played in and started all 13 games for Florida.{{cite magazine |last1=Harvey |first1=Demetrius |title=Florida Gators OL Kingsley Eguakun Placed on Rimington Trophy Watch List |url=https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-kingsley-eguakun-placed-on-rimington-trophy-watch-list |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=July 22, 2022 |access-date=February 13, 2024}} During the 2023 season, Eguakun only played in and started four games as he was limited with an ankle injury most of the season.{{cite magazine |last1=Carroll |first1=Brandon |title=Two Gators Invited to 2024 NFL Draft Combine |url=https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-ricky-pearsall-kingsley-eguakun-invited-2024-nfl-combine |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 13, 2024 |access-date=February 13, 2024}} Eguakun accepted invites to both the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl and to the 2024 Senior Bowl.{{cite magazine |last1=Goodall |first1=Zach |title=Florida OL Kingsley Eguakun Accepts Shrine Bowl Invitation |url=https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-kingsley-eguakun-accepts-shrine-bowl-invitation |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=November 22, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024}}{{cite magazine |last1=Carroll |first1=Brandon |title=Gators Center Kingsley Eguakun Accepts Senior Bowl Invitation |url=https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-center-kingsley-eguakun-accepts-senior-bowl-invitation |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 9, 2024 |access-date=February 13, 2024}} After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Eguakun decided to declare for the 2024 NFL draft.{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Topher |title=Florida center Kingsley Eguakun declares for the NFL Draft |url=https://www.alligator.org/article/2023/12/florida-center-kingsley-eguakun-declares-nfl-draft |website=The Independent Florida Alligator |access-date=February 13, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Brockway |first1=Kevin |title=Florida football C Kingsley Eguakun declaring for NFL Draft |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/sports/college/football/2023/12/03/florida-gators-c-kingsley-eguakin-delcaring-for-nfl-draft/71759656007/ |website=Gainesville Sun |date=December 3, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/2
| weight = 304
| shuttle = 4.51
| cone drill = 7.57
| vertical = 32.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 1
| bench = 26
| arm span = 32 1/2
| hand span = 10 1/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kingsley-eguakun/32004547-5543-7422-543e-16c95f93f09f |title=Kingsley Eguakun Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 17, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1029571&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Kingsley Eguakun College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 17, 2024}}
}}
On April 29, 2024, Eguakun signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions.{{cite web |last1=Brockway |first1=Kevin |title=Pros and cons of Detroit Lions signing Florida football C Kingsley Eguakun as a 2024 UDFA |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/04/29/kingsley-eguakun-2024-florida-football-detroit-lions/73382796007/ |website=Gainesville.com |publisher=Gainesville Sun |access-date=May 7, 2024}}{{cite web|title=TWENTYMAN: A closer look at the Lions' undrafted rookie free agents|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/a-closer-look-at-the-lions-undrafted-rookie-free-agents-calhoun-chambers-clemens|author=Twentyman, Tim|website=DetroitLions|date=May 10, 2024}} He was waived on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-announce-roster-moves-nfl-53-man|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-x8258|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 28, 2024}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 20, 2025.{{cite web|title=Detroit Lions sign 11 players to futures contracts, 1 to active roster|url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/1/20/24348138/detroit-lions-sign-11-players-to-futures-contracts-1-to-active-roster|work=Pride of Detroit|date=January 20, 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/kingsley-eguakun/15869 Florida Gators bio]
{{Detroit Lions roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eguakun, Kingsley}}
Category:Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida
Category:American football centers
Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:Sandalwood High School alumni
Category:Florida Gators football players