Eku Leota
Eku Leota is a Samoan-American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He previously played for the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats before transferring to Auburn Tigers.
Early life
Leota was born in Falefā, Samoa and moved to Asheville, North Carolina at age 7. He attended Asheville High School.College career
Leota began his college football career at Northwestern and redshirted his true freshman season. He had 2.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman. Leota was named third-team All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten Conference] during his redshirt sophomore season. He entered the NCAA transfer portal at the end of the regular season.Leota ultimately transferred to Auburn. He made 23 tackles with ten tackles for loss and seven sacks in his first season with the team. Leota suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in the fifth game of the Tigers' 2022 season.
Professional career
Carolina Panthers
Leota was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023. On August 29, he was waived for final roster cuts, but signed to the Panthers' practice squad the following day. Leota was promoted to the active roster on November 13.On September 17, 2024, Leota was waived by the Panthers, and re-signed to the practice squad. He was then released again on September 24.