As the importance of the running back position has steadily declined, even mainstays of the position like Ezekiel Elliott have seen their value around the league drop. Now, as the former Dallas Cowboy finds himself waiting on the sidelines, it remains to be seen who will sign the Illinois native.

Ezekiel Elijah Elliott was born on July 22, 1995, in Alton, Illinois. Sports was in his blood as his mother was a high school state champion in three different sports, while his football tendencies came from his father who played linebacker for the Missouri football team. His extended family also gave him a similar edge, like his maternal grandfather’s basketball stint with Drake University and his uncle, Shawn Huff.

One-upping his mother, Zeke was a four-sport star at the high school level. He earned Offensive Player of the Year as a junior before improving his numbers across the board in his senior year. He was critical to the team reaching three straight championship games but lost all three. Elliott was sensational as a track and field athlete, even qualifying for the state level. As a result, he even earned Athlete of the Year for his four consecutive state championships. Even though his family wanted him to join nearby Missouri, he instead opted for the prestigious program at the Ohio State University.

While he spent most of his freshman year as a gunner, he was promoted to the starting lineup’s RB. He was sensational and even made the All-Big Ten Conference team. He was instrumental in helping Ohio State reach its first College Football Playoff. He continued his run in the playoffs, even winning Offensive Player of the Game in the Sugar BowlBowl, before doubling down in the next game, recording the fourth most yards rushed by a player in Ohio State history in the all-important game. He finished just behind Archie Griffin on several of the college’s leaderboards. For his final collegiate year, he won the Running Back of the Year and was selected as the Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten.

What is Ezekiel Elliott’s Height?

Ezekiel Elliott has a recorded height of six feet or 1.83 meters. His height puts him at the perfect build for a Running Back in the NFL. His size, combined with his athleticism, and catching abilities made him a surefire bet going into the NFL draft. As result, he went fourth overall to the most prestigious organization in American sport, the Dallas Cowboys. His height and size translated immediately to the league as he entered one of the most dominant rookie seasons of all-time, setting various NFL and Dallas-records. As a result, he was selected to the first-team All-Pro as well as the Pro Bowl.

While his height made him tailor-made for the position, his raw athleticism, pass-catching and sports pedigree made him a bonafide star in the league. However, after an explosive start, his career became a recurring theme of diminishing returns. While he would make two more Pro Bowls in 2018 and 2019, even making the second-team All-Pro in the former year, he could never capture his collegiate or rookie season magic.

As a result, the Cowboys let him go in order to make cap space, and he’s yet to sign with a team.