Zeke Vandenburgh Bio
Ezekiel Vandenburgh (born January 18, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker and defensive lineman. He played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds, where he developed into one of the most decorated defensive players in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Vandenburgh signed with the Miami Dolphins and later joined the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League. He has also spent time with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.
Standing 6 ft 4 in and listed at 232 lb, Vandenburgh built his reputation on consistent tackling, pass-rush production, and durability through six college seasons. He is best known for his 2022 senior campaign, a year that produced the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in Division I FCS football.
Early Life and Background
Ezekiel Vandenburgh was born on January 18, 1999, in Vallejo, California. He later moved to Freeport, Illinois, where he grew up and finished his high school years. The relocation to the Midwest placed him near Freeport High School, where he would launch his football career.
At Freeport High School, Vandenburgh became a three-year letterwinner for the Pretzels football program. As a senior, he recorded more than 100 tackles, a total that signaled his readiness for the next level. In 2016, his play earned him First-Team All-Conference recognition, drawing attention from college programs across the region.
His combination of size, instincts, and finishing power made him an attractive recruit for FCS programs. He chose to continue his career at Illinois State University, joining the Redbirds and beginning a long developmental path that would eventually reshape his professional outlook.
Path to American Football
Vandenburgh enrolled at Illinois State in 2017 and immediately joined the Redbirds football program. He redshirted his first year, using the season to add strength and learn the defensive scheme. That patience laid the foundation for a steady climb up the depth chart at linebacker.
By his sophomore season in 2018, he had earned a role on the field, playing in all eleven games and recording 22 tackles, including a season-best four tackles against Southern Illinois. The 2019 campaign showed further growth, as he appeared in all fifteen games, posted 51 tackles and nine tackles for loss, and added a half sack in the FCS playoffs against Central Arkansas.
Through consistent practice habits and academic performance, Vandenburgh became a multi-time MVFC All-Academic selection. His development on the field and in the classroom positioned him as a leader on the Illinois State defense heading into his final college seasons.
Zeke Vandenburgh Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Vandenburgh’s first three active seasons at Illinois State were defined by gradual progression. After redshirting in 2017, he appeared in all eleven games in 2018, posting 22 tackles and recording a season-best four tackles against Southern Illinois in his first extended action at linebacker.
In 2019, he played all fifteen games, finishing with 51 tackles and nine tackles for loss while earning MVFC All-Academic honorable mention. The 2020 season was moved to the spring and shortened to four games because of scheduling changes, and Vandenburgh played in every contest, recording thirteen tackles while continuing to build his reputation as a reliable defender.
Illinois State Breakthrough (2021–2022)
The 2021 fall season marked Vandenburgh’s arrival as a full-time starter. He started eleven games for the Redbirds, recording 73 tackles and a team-leading four sacks. Against Northern Illinois, he posted a then-career-best fourteen tackles and was named MVFC Defensive Player of the Week. He also earned MVFC All-Academic Team honors for a fourth straight season.
His 2022 senior season cemented his status as one of the top defensive players in the FCS. He started ten games, tallying at least one sack in eight of them, and recorded three or more sacks against Valparaiso, South Dakota State, and Western Illinois. In the season finale against Western Illinois, he set a career high with seventeen tackles alongside three-and-a-half sacks.
After the season, Vandenburgh swept the major MVFC honors. He was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-MVFC, and he received the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award as Division I FCS’s best defensive player for 2022.
Professional Career (2023–Present)
Vandenburgh entered the professional ranks on May 12, 2023, when he signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. His first NFL season was cut short on July 18, 2023, when the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve. He was waived/injured by Miami on August 19, 2024, ending his tenure with the franchise.
On January 23, 2025, Vandenburgh signed with the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League, joining the spring league to continue his career as a linebacker and defensive lineman. He later signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League on March 3, 2026, before being released on May 9, 2026, during the first round of preseason roster cuts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vandenburgh combines linebacker instincts with the size and length of a defensive lineman. His track record of high tackle totals, multi-sack games, and weekly conference awards shows a player who can play downhill against the run while also collapsing the pocket as a pass rusher.
Notable Events and Milestones
His signature moment came in the 2022 season finale against Western Illinois, when he posted seventeen tackles and three-and-a-half sacks. The performance helped him capture the Buck Buchanan Award and the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year honor in the same campaign.
Zeke Vandenburgh Career Highlights
Vandenburgh’s career is anchored by his decorated run at Illinois State, where he earned three major postseason awards in 2022 and served as a multi-year starter at linebacker. His professional path has included stints with the Miami Dolphins, the Memphis Showboats, and the BC Lions.
College and Professional Highlights
At Illinois State, Vandenburgh racked up 73 tackles with four sacks in 2021 and followed it with a 2022 season that featured at least one sack in eight of ten games, plus three-or-more sacks against Valparaiso, South Dakota State, and Western Illinois. He earned First-Team All-MVFC, MVFC Defensive Player of the Year, and the Buck Buchanan Award for his senior play.
After signing with the Miami Dolphins in 2023 and later joining the Memphis Showboats in 2025, Vandenburgh added professional experience to his resume. His 2026 move to the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League extended his career into a third professional league before his release in May 2026.
Other Performances
Vandenburgh was an MVFC All-Academic selection for four straight seasons, highlighting his work away from the field. He also delivered a strong playoff moment in 2019, recording a half sack and four tackles against Central Arkansas in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Zeke Vandenburgh Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Vandenburgh’s parents and immediate family beyond his marriage is limited. His background, including his move from Vallejo, California, to Freeport, Illinois, shaped his early football environment and set the stage for his career.
Personal Life
Ezekiel Vandenburgh married his wife, Leah, on March 18, 2023. The couple’s relationship has been a steady presence alongside his transition from college football into the professional ranks with the Miami Dolphins, Memphis Showboats, and BC Lions.
2025 Season Performance
Vandenburgh opened his 2025 campaign with the Memphis Showboats after signing with the UFL club on January 23, 2025. The move gave him a chance to play a full spring season as both a linebacker and defensive lineman, two positions he handled throughout his college career.
His veteran presence and FCS pedigree made him one of the more experienced defenders on the Showboats roster. Playing in the UFL allowed Vandenburgh to refine his pass-rush timing and tackling angles while contributing on a team competing in the spring football landscape.
With his UFL experience complete, Vandenburgh’s 2025 storyline carried into a 2026 opportunity with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, where he signed as a defensive lineman on March 3, 2026. That pathway reflects his ongoing effort to extend his professional career across multiple leagues.
