Joseph Ngata Bio
Joseph Ngata (born January 9, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Clemson University and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Listed at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and 217 lb (98 kg), Ngata has also spent time with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Ngata was born on January 9, 2001, in Reno, Nevada. He is of Cameroonian descent, with both of his parents having been born in Cameroon before moving to the United States. He grew up in a household where football ran in the family, as both of his brothers also played the sport.
Ngata attended Folsom High School in Folsom, California, where he developed into one of the most sought-after wide receiver prospects in the country. He was rated a five-star recruit by Rivals.com and was selected to the All-American Bowl. Recruiting outlets ranked him as the 21st-best player nationally, the fifth-best wide receiver, and the fourth-best player in the state of California.
Across his high school career, Ngata recorded 188 receptions for 3,682 yards and 55 touchdowns, helping lead Folsom to back-to-back state championship appearances. He earned area player of the year honors and became the first Clemson signee from California since 1991 when he committed to the Tigers.
Path to American Football
Ngata’s path to professional football began in the talent-rich pipeline of Northern California high school football, where his combination of size, hands, and production set him apart. His brothers’ involvement in the sport helped shape his early understanding of the wide receiver position, and his production at Folsom quickly attracted national attention.
His transition to the collegiate level came through a signing class that highlighted his potential as an immediate contributor. As a consensus five-star recruit with deep postseason experience at the high school level, Ngata arrived at Clemson with the expectation of contributing early to a Tigers program that had recently competed for a national championship.
Ngata opted to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft after his senior season at Clemson rather than use his remaining year of eligibility. He was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, went undrafted, and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles shortly after the draft, marking his official entry into professional football.
Joseph Ngata Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Joseph Ngata spent his entire college career at Clemson from 2019 through 2022, working his way into a starting role over four seasons. As a true freshman in 2019, he played in every game and helped the Tigers reach the national championship while recording 17 catches for 240 yards and three touchdowns. His role grew steadily even as injuries interrupted his development in subsequent seasons.
In 2020, Ngata was named a starter but suffered an injury in the second week of the season, finishing with just three starts in seven games and seven receptions for 83 yards. He broke out as a junior in 2021 with 23 receptions for 438 yards and one score in only eight games, averaging 19.0 yards per reception. He capped his Clemson career with a strong 2022 senior season, starting all 14 games and posting career highs of 41 receptions for 526 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by an eight-catch, 84-yard performance in the Orange Bowl. He finished his college career with 88 catches for 1,287 yards and six touchdowns in 39 games played.
NFL Breakthrough (2023)
Ngata entered the professional ranks after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, despite his invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent and immediately joined the team’s offseason program. His rookie campaign reflected the typical challenges of a young undrafted receiver learning a pro offense.
On August 29, 2023, Ngata was waived by the Eagles but quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad, keeping him within the organization. On January 18, 2024, he signed a reserve/future contract with Philadelphia, signaling the team’s continued investment in his development. The early NFL phase of his career was marked by perseverance rather than game-day production, as he continued to refine his route running and special teams value.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2023–2024)
Joseph Ngata spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles organization, working primarily through the practice squad. He was waived/injured on August 27, 2024, but the Eagles brought him back, re-signing him to the practice squad on January 10, 2025, before releasing him four days later. His time in Philadelphia allowed him to learn the professional game at close range under the Eagles’ coaching staff and alongside established wide receivers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ngata’s game is built on his physical profile at 6 ft 3 in and 217 lb, giving him the size to win contested catches and the frame to handle the rigors of outside receiver duties. He showed consistent big-play ability at Clemson, averaging 19.0 yards per reception during his 2021 junior season, and finished his college career as a reliable chain mover who could also stretch defenses vertically. His willingness to compete for the ball in traffic and his experience in Clemson’s pro-style passing concepts prepared him for the schematic variety of the NFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining milestones of Ngata’s career came in the 2022 Orange Bowl, where he delivered an eight-catch, 84-yard performance in his final collegiate game. Reaching the 2019 national championship game as a true freshman also stands out as an early career highlight, alongside his selection to the All-American Bowl and his place as a consensus five-star high school recruit.
Joseph Ngata Career Wins
Joseph Ngata’s professional playing record has been primarily developmental since he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023. His career has featured practice squad contributions with the Philadelphia Eagles and short stints with the Birmingham Stallions and Calgary Stampeders in 2025, without major individual awards at the professional level.
High School and College Highlights
Ngata’s most decorated stretch came at Folsom High School, where his 188 receptions for 3,682 yards and 55 touchdowns helped lead the team to consecutive state championship games and earned him area player of the year honors. At Clemson, he contributed as a true freshman on a team that reached the 2019 national championship game, then developed into a starting wide receiver by his senior season, finishing with 88 receptions for 1,287 yards and six touchdowns across 39 games.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his top-level stops, Ngata’s career arc also includes brief professional opportunities with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL in early 2025 and a short tenure with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 2025. These experiences gave him exposure to alternative professional football systems outside the NFL.
Joseph Ngata Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joseph Ngata comes from a Cameroonian-American family, with both of his parents born in Cameroon before moving to the United States. Football was a shared pursuit among the brothers in his household, and both of Ngata’s brothers also played the sport, contributing to his early development as a wide receiver.
Personal Life
Ngata was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, before his family ties to California helped lead him to Folsom High School. He attended Clemson University from 2019 to 2022 and has continued his professional football career in the United States and briefly in Canada.
2025 Season Performance
Joseph Ngata’s 2025 season has been defined by roster movement rather than a settled role. After being re-signed to the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad on January 10, 2025, he was released just four days later, opening the door to opportunities in alternate professional leagues.
On January 22, 2025, he signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League as he searched for a path back onto a regular game-day roster. His time in Birmingham was brief, and he was released on March 20, 2025. Ngata then signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League on May 1, 2025, looking to compete for a spot north of the border.
His tenure with Calgary also proved short, as he was released with the Stampeders’ final training camp cuts on June 1, 2025. With the 2025 league calendar well underway across the NFL, UFL, and CFL, Ngata’s immediate focus will be on securing a roster spot where he can translate his practice-squad polish into consistent on-field production.