(CNN) -- From a young basketball hopeful in Accra, Ghana to fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions.
Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah's journey to the top of gridiron has been sprinkled with more than a hint of stardust.
When the 23-year-old, who also played soccer as a child, moved to the United States in 2008, he couldn't have dreamed of what came to pass in New York on Thursday on the opening day of the Draft, when the NFL's 32 teams pick up young college talent.
"I've worked hard toward this and I actually earned it," Ansah, who only began playing football in 2010, told reporters on a conference call after being drafted by the Lions.
"It's been a humbling experience and a crazy journey."
Every year the NFL's 32 teams get to pick, in reverse order according to the previous year's standings, the top college talent. USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley is one of the most highly-rated for 2013. Follow the draft live here.
Who will be the top NFL draft picks?
Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M prepares for a play against the Missouri Tigers on November 24, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Joeckel, an All-American offensive tackle, is expected to be selected early in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, April 25. Click through to see more first round hopefuls as predicted by NFL.com.
Photos: 2013 NFL Draft prospects
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The 23-year-old Ghanaian arrived in the U.S. on an academic scholarship with the Brigham Young University in Utah, which is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- more commonly known as the Mormon Church.
Keen to pursue his hoop dreams, Ansah tried out for the basketball team, but after failing to make the grade, he took up athletics because of his sprinting speed.
Ansah ran the 100 meters in 10.91 seconds and the 200m in 21.89 secs, according to the official website of the Lions.
When you couple that athletic speed with an imposing six feet five inches frame -- Ansah weighs 275 pounds -- it is not hard to see why he appealed to the school's football team.
Despite his lack of playing experience, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew suggested he can be an immediate asset for the team.
"I do see him as an impactful player right away," said Mayhew. "Sacks come when they come ... but he's going to be a guy that will play a big role for us on defense."
Read: The lowdown on the NFL draft
Ansah's adjustment to life in the NFL might be made all the easier as he has already worked with Lions head coach Jim Schwartz at the Senior Bowl -- the annual game which pits the best Draft prospects against each other.
"It will be a lot easier. I'm really comfortable with them," added Ansah, whose mother Elizabeth was flown over to join her son at New York's Radio City Music Hall, where the Draft is held.
"I know how our coach is so, you know, just like giving me that chance is going to make it a lot easier.
"It doesn't matter the experience that I've got. All I know is I've just got to produce and work on my technique and I know that the Detroit Lions are willing to work with me.
"I'm not going to make any promises. All I have to do is work hard and see what happens."
Schwartz, who coached a team of prospects from schools in the south in the Senior Bowl, has been impressed with what he saw from Ansah.
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The Lions coach will be hoping Ansah, who was the Senior Bowl's most outstanding player, can improve a Detroit team which had a losing record of 4-12 in 2012.
"We watched him get better every single day," said Schwartz. "He's an inexperienced player, but he's a very instinctive player. We liked everything about him. We had a good feel for him.
"He's inexperienced, but he's not a developmental player."
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Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL's worst team last year, will have first pick. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o is one of the most coveted players despite last year's controversy about his "hoax girlfriend."
Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, seen here training at the 2013 NFL scouting combine, was cut from Louisiana State University's football program last year for violating team rules, and was later arrested for possessing marijuana. The 20-year-old says he wants a fresh start in the draft.
West Viriginia's Geno Smith has been tipped by some as the best quarterback in the draft. Last year he broke the Mountaineers' consecutive pass completions record and tied the NCAA completion percentage record.
This year's draftees will seek to follow in the footsteps of famous predecessors. Peyton Manning, the No. 1 pick in 1998, became a Super Bowl-winning MVP with the Indianapolis Colts, where he has set numerous records.
Fellow quarterback John Elway, the No. 1 pick in 1983, won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos -- where the Hall of Famer is now Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell takes center stage at the draft, which is held each year at New York's iconic Radio City Music Hall.
Last year Robert Griffin III was taken by the Washington Redskins as the second draft pick, and the quarterback was named offensive rookie of the year by the Associated Press.
Andrew Luck went to the Colts as 2012's top pick, having delayed his entry by a year. Fan groups started a "Suck for Luck" campaign in the hope their team would get the quarterback. He broke a rookie record for passing yards in his debut season. Like Elway, he is a Stanford alumni.
Dion Jordan of the Oregon Ducks warms up before a game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves on September 1, 2012, in Eugene, Oregon.
Eric Fisher of Central Michigan watches the Senior Bowl on January 26 in Mobile, Alabama.
Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei of the Utah Utes battles Torian White of the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on October 13, 2012, in Pasadena, California.
Lane Johnson of Oklahoma participates in the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 23 in Indianapolis.
Dee Milliner of Alabama runs the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks on September 15, 2012, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Ziggy Ansah of Brigham Young University works out during the 2013 NFL Combine on February 25 in Indianapolis.
Ryan Nassib of Syracuse looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium on October 13, 2012, in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Barkevious Mingo of Louisiana State University sacks quarterback Clint Moseley of the Auburn Tigers on October 22, 2011, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Sharrif Floyd of the Florida Gators warms up prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field on October 27, 2012, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Offensive lineman D.J. Fluker of Alabama lines up against Mississippi on October 15, 2011, in Oxford, Mississippi.
North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jonathan Cooper lines up against Georgia Tech in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on November 10, 2012.
Tavon Austin of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 17, 2012, at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Safety Kenny Vaccaro of the Texas Longhorns attempts to tackle running back Joseph Randall of the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 15, 2011, at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Jarvis Jones of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after a win against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Sanford Stadium on November 17, 2012, in Athens, Georgia.
Chance Warmack of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks to the sideline during a timeout against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 8, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Xavier Rhodes of Florida State takes on the Northern Illinois Huskies during the Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 1 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Sheldon Richardson of Missouri works out during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25 in Indianapolis.
Florida State defensive end Cornellius Carradine takes on the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on September 3, 2011.
Jamar Taylor of Boise State plays against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome on September 3, 2011, in Atlanta.
Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International participates in the 2013 NFL Combine on February 26 in Indianapolis.
DeAndre Hopkins of the Clemson Tigers catches a touchdown pass over Chris Davis of the Auburn Tigers at the Georgia Dome on September 1, 2012, in Atlanta.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o prepares for a play against Alabama during the BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 7.
Defensive end Datone Jones of UCLA celebrates a victory over the USC Trojans at the Rose Bowl on November 17, 2012, in Pasadena, California.
Justin Hunter of Tennessee runs with the ball against Branden Smith of the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 29, 2012, in Athens, Georgia.
Tyler Eifert of Notre Dame runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2012, in South Bend, Indiana.
Menelik Watson of Florida State takes on the Northern Illinois Huskies during the 2013 Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 1.
North Carolina Tar Heels defensive tackle Sylvester Williams prepares for a play during the 2011 Advocare V100 Independence Bowl game against the Missouri Tigers in Shreveport, Louisiana, on December 26, 2011.
Bjoern Werner of Florida State works out during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25 in Indianapolis.
Cornerback Desmond Trufant of the Washington Huskies celebrates after intercepting a pass against Stanford on September 27, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Defensive lineman Jesse Williams of Alabama lines up against Kent State on September 3, 2011, at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown plays against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, on September 22, 2012.
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