Former Illinois State All-American Zeke Vandenburgh is starting at inside linebacker for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League. The Freeport native has hopes to be in an NFL training camp this summer. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
After injuries delayed his NFL aspirations, former Illinois State All-American linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh is back in the game.
The 26-year-old is starting at inside linebacker for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League this spring. Through two games, the Freeport native ranks second on the team with 16 tackles.
Vandenburgh is striving to remain healthy. He was injured during Miami Dolphins training camp in consecutive years after being signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2023.
The second injury — suffered in 2024 — sent Vandenburgh to the injured reserved list. However, the Dolphins waived the linebacker with a settlement before the end of August.
In 33 snaps across two preseason games, Vandenburgh had recorded three tackles with the Dolphins.
“When I got hurt, it’s just really part of the game,” Vandenburgh told Prairie State Pigskin. “I think the injury rate for football players is probably 100%. It’s just a matter of when and how bad.”
Though he had a workout with the Pittsburgh Steelers after leaving Miami, no other NFL team claimed him.
“Even when I hurt my hamstring in camp with the Dolphins (in 2024), I thought I still had a lot to give,” he said. “I felt like I was playing well. I ended up getting released because of the injury, not so much because I wasn’t good enough. I’m still optimistic about the future.”
Memphis in the meantime
After winning the 2022 Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s top FCS defensive player, Vandenburgh was drafted by the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions in 2023.
Though he signed with the Dolphins, Birmingham retained his UFL rights. Yet, that changed when new Stallions management released him over the winter. Memphis then stepped in and claimed Vandenburgh.
“I didn’t choose what team I signed with, but I was just thankful for an opportunity to get some more film (for NFL teams to see),” he said.
While he played Illinois State’s “Jack” position – a combination of “outside linebacker and defensive end on the short side,” Vandenburgh has shifted to inside linebacker as a pro.
“It’s obviously a huge jump in competition from the FCS level to the NFL, but football is still football at the end of the day,” he said. “Defensive coverages and techniques are similar, but there’s just a lot more attention to detail (in the pros). You’re paying attention more to what the offense is doing.”
According to Vandenburgh, that includes reading releases as well as blocking schemes.
“There’s many things (that keep players out of the NFL), but that’s one of them – being able to process everything quickly. They definitely ask a lot of you mentally and on top of that, the game is faster,” he said.
Vandenburgh stressed the importance of film study as a professional.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot more about the game,” he said. “In college, I would consider myself a film junkie, a guy who likes to talk football and (was in tune) with what the coaches were saying.
“But every time you go up a level, you realize how little you know. I’ve made a lot of strides in football IQ.”
With his position change, Vandenburgh said he had to “kind of reinvent myself and how I move and learn new techniques.”
At 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, Vandenburgh said he is about 5-10 pounds lighter than he was as a senior at Illinois State.
“I’m faster now,” he said.
Like nearly all players in the UFL, Vandenburgh sees the league as a possible stepping stone into an NFL camp this summer.
“That would be awesome. This is an opportunity to get more film to show that I’m healthy. I want to play and start all 10 games, be a contributor and help my team win and just have fun,” he said.
Repping the Redbirds
Last fall, Vandenburgh said he followed Illinois State’s 10-win season and run to the second round of the FCS playoffs closely.
The 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Vandenburgh said he “watched almost every game” and followed the play of ISU safety and former high school teammate Keondre Jackson.
“I’ve known him forever, so I was keeping up with him,” Vandenburgh said. “I’d watch his film after each week. It was cool to see the ‘Birds in the playoffs again.”
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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