Pirates Re-Sign Defensive Lineman Ezekiel Rose
The Massachusetts Pirates begin to add to their defense for the 2023 season as the team brings back defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose. The 6'2", 308lb DL re-joins the Pirates after he dominated on the defensive front for the team during the three final games of the 2021 season. Rose accumulated 19 total tackles (9 solo, 10 assisted) with two tackles for a loss. He made his presence known despite a small sample size by leading the defense in tackles against Bay Area and San Diego in the final two games of the regular season.
Prior to joining the Pirates last season, Rose won a Grey Cup Championship in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the 2021 season. In 2019 after graduating from WVU, Rose attended Rookie Mini-Camp for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.
The Clarksdale, Mississippi native spit his collegiate career between West Virginia University and East Mississippi Community College. Rose dominated off the line during his two seasons at WVU after transferring going into the 2017 season. During his senior season in 2018, Rose appeared in 25 games and registered 19 tackles (12 solo, 7 assisted), 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and made one interception. He was not only performing well on the field during that season but also in the classroom which helped him be named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team.
In 2017 during his junior season, Rose played in 13 games, including three starts at defensive end, and was named WVU's Mr. Unselfish by the Mountaineer coaching staff for being a team player. He finished with 23 tackles (19 solo, 4 assisted), 4.5 sacks (led the team), two pass breakup, one interception, and a forced fumble.
From 2015-2016, Rose played at East Mississippi Community College appearing in 18 games. Over those appearances, he totaled 44 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Despite Rose only playing three games for the organization last season, he brought high energy and personality to the team during that team and will look to do the same for now a full season with the Pirates. Rose is the first stepping stone to building a strong defensive lineman for 2023, which was a position that the team struggled to find stability in last season.