Joanne Mattern - Ezekiel Elliott

Copyright 2018 by Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in the United States of America.

Printing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A Robbie Reader Biography

Aaron Rodgers

Abigail Breslin

Adam Levine

Adrian Peterson

Albert Einstein

Albert Pujols

Aly and AJ

Andrew Luck

AnnaSophia Robb

Ariana Grande

Ashley Tisdale

Brenda Song

Brittany Murphy

Bruno Mars

Buster Posey

Carmelo Anthony

Charles Schulz

Chris Johnson

Clayton Kershaw

Cliff Lee

Colin Kaepernick

Dak Prescott

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Darius Rucker

David Archuleta

Debby Ryan

Demi Lovato

Derrick Rose

Donovan McNabb

Drake Bell & Josh Peck

Dr. Seuss

Dustin Pedroia

Dwayne Johnson

Dwyane Wade

Dylan & Cole Sprouse

Ed Sheeran

Emily Osment

Ezekiel Elliott

Hailee Steinfeld

Hilary Duff

Jamie Lynn Spears

Jennette McCurdy

Jeremy Lin

Jesse McCartney

Jimmie Johnson

Joe Flacco

Johnny Gruelle

Jonas Brothers

Keke Palmer

Larry Fitzgerald

LeBron James

Mia Hamm

Michael Strahan

Miguel Cabrera

Miley Cyrus

Miranda Cosgrove

Philo Farnsworth

Raven-Symon

Rixton

Robert Griffin III

Roy Halladay

Shaquille ONeal

Story of Harley-Davidson

Sue Bird

Syd Hoff

Tiki Barber

Tim Howard

Tim Lincecum

Tom Brady

Tony Hawk

Troy Polamalu

Tyler Perry

Victor Cruz

Victoria Justice

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Mattern, Joanne, 1963

Title: Ezekiel Elliott / by Joanne Mattern.

Description: Hallandale, FL : Mitchell Lane Publisher, [2018] | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017026940 | ISBN 9781680201208 (library bound)

Subjects: LCSH: Elliott, Ezekiel, 1995 Juvenile literature. | Football playersUnited StatesBiographyJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC GV939.E46 M37 2018 | DDC 796.332092 [B] dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017026940

eBook ISBN: 978-1-5457-4592-2

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joanne Mattern is the author of many books for children on a variety of subjects, including history and biography. She has written many biographies for Mitchell Lane. Joanne loves to learn about people, places, and events and bring historical figures to life for todays readers. She lives in New York State with her husband, children, and several pets.

PUBLISHERS NOTE: The following story has been thoroughly researched and to the best of our knowledge represents a true story. While every possible effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher will not assume liability for damages caused by inaccuracies in the data, and makes no warranty on the accuracy of the information contained herein. This story has not been authorized or endorsed by Ezekiel Elliott.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One
A Chip on His Shoulder

Chapter Two
A Multi-Sport Star

Chapter Three
College Champion

Chapter Four
Rookie Sensation

Chapter Five
A Bright Future

Words in bold type can be found in the glossary.

Ezekiel Elliott tries to reach the end zone during the Missouri state high school football championships in 2011. His team, the Bombers, lost the game. Ezekiel was unhappy that he was never able to lead his school to a state championship.

CHAPTER ONE

A Chip on His Shoulder

Ezekiel Elliott had a spectacular career as a high school football running back in Missouri. He was good enough to play in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Ezekiel was a speedster who won four events in the state high school track championships as a senior. But one thing frustrated him. In his junior and senior years, his football team played for the state championship. Both times they lost in the final moments. And his track team finished second despite Ezekiels outstanding effort. So as he told Sports Illustrated for Kids, That was a chip I had on my shoulder. I had never won a team championship.

Ezekiel thought he could get rid of that chip by attending Ohio State University. The Buckeyes were consistently one of the countrys best football programs. Ezekiel didnt play much as a freshman . But as a sophomore, he was the teams leading rusher as Ohio State won 12 games and lost only one in the regular season.

The Buckeyes played the Oregon Ducks for the national championship on January 12, 2015. Ezekiel saved his best for last. He rushed for 246 yards and scored four touchdowns. The Buckeyes defeated the Ducks 4220. Ezekiel was named the games Offensive MVP (most valuable player).

The way Elliott racked up his yardage was the most impressive part, wrote Nicole Auerbach of USA Today. He bulldozed the Oregon defense; thats the only way to put it. The Ducks knew hed get the ball, and hed run it up the middleeffectivelyanyway. He averaged nearly 7 yards a carry.

When you have a back who runs like that, its easy to block for him, added Buckeye offensive tackle Taylor Decker. He doesnt back down from a defensive lineman. Hes 180 miles per hour all the time

Ezekiels championship dreams finally came true in 2015 when he helped his college football team, the Ohio State Buckeyes, win the national championship. Here Ezekiel poses with head coach Urban Meyer and the championship trophy.

As Ezekiel joined his jubilant teammates after the game, he was just a little bit lighter. The chip on his shoulder was gone.

Ezekiel Elliott carries the ball into the end zone during the Missouri state high school football championships in 2012. Despite Ezekiels hard work, his team lost the game.

CHAPTER TWO

A Multi-Sport Star

Ezekiel Elliott was born on July 22, 1995, in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents, Stacy and Dawn Elliott, had been star athletes at the University of Missouri. Dawn ran track. Stacy played linebacker on the football team. Ezekiel has two younger sisters, Aaliyah and Lailah. They are great athletes too.

Ezekiels parents knew that education was very important. Stacy told 5pointsblue. com, Dawn and I sacrificed to provide a high-quality education for Ezekiel and his sisters. We didnt drive the best cars. We didnt go on fine trips or live in big houses.... Our family vacations were AAU national track championships held in places across the country.