Ikem Ekwonu

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Ikem Ekwonu
NC State Wolfpack – No. 79
PositionOffensive tackle
Class
Redshirt
Sophomore
MajorBusiness Administration
Personal information
Born:Charlotte, North Carolina
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight320 lb (145 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolProvidence Day (Charlotte)
Career highlights and awards

Ikemefuna "Ickey" Ekwonu (EE-kehm-eck-WAHN-ew) is an American football offensive tackle for the NC State Wolfpack. In 2021, he was named a unanimous All-American and was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Early life and high school[]

Ekwonu grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and attended Providence Day School. Ekwonu committed to play college football at North Carolina State over offers from Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.[1]

College career[]

Ekwonu started the final seven games of NC State's season at left tackle and led the team with 37 pancake blocks and was named to the FWAA Freshman All-America team.[2] He began his sophomore season as the Wolfpack's starting left guard.[3][4] Ekwonu was moved back to left tackle during the season and again led the Wolfpack with 50 pancake blocks and 22 knockdowns and was named second team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at both guard and tackle by the Associated Press.[5]

Ekwonu was named preseason All-ACC as well as a preseason All-American by Pro Football Focus and Sporting News going into the 2021 season.[6] He was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the ACC and was also a unanimous All-American selection.[7]

Professional career[]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 4 in
(1.93 m) 		310 lb
(141 kg) 		34 in
(0.86 m) 		10+1⁄4 in
(0.26 m)		 4.93 s 4.73 s 7.82 s 29.0 in
(0.74 m)		 9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)
All values from NFL Combine[8]

Following the end of the season, Ekwonu announced that he would forgo his remaining college eligibility to enter the 2022 NFL Draft.[9]

Personal life[]

Ekwonu majored in business administration at NC State. His father was basketball player from Nigeria, while a twin brother, Osita, plays linebacker at the University of Notre Dame.[10] His nickname Ickey was given to him by a former coach who noted his resemblance to running back Ickey Woods.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ "Talented OL Ikem Ekwonu commits to NC State". July 16, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "NC State's Ikem Ekwonu is the Pancake King of Raleigh. He has syrup bottles to prove it". The News & Observer. November 19, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Feldman, Bruce (March 16, 2021). "NC State's Ikem Ekwonu, a year out from NFL Draft eligibility, is quietly 'the most feared offensive lineman in the ACC'". The Athletic. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Friedlander, Brett (September 17, 2020). "Ekwonu Comfortable With Move to Guard". SI.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "The key to neutralizing Clemson's d-line rest on this NC State player". The Charlotte Observer. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu has fine-tuned his game this summer". August 10, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "N.C. State's Ikem Ekwonu is college football's 'Pancake King'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. December 23, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Ickey Ekwonu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (January 1, 2022). "NC State Wolfpack OT Ikem Ekwonu declares for 2022 NFL draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "Ikem Ekwonu". gopack.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Ikem Ekwonu". gopack.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.

External links[]


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