Ikem Ekwonu

Ikemefuna Patrick "Ickey" Ekwonu[1][lower-alpha 1] (born October 31, 2000) is an American football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Of Nigerian descent, he played college football at North Carolina State, where he was named a unanimous All-American and was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2021. Ekwonu was selected sixth overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Ikem Ekwonu
No. 79 – Carolina Panthers
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (2000-10-31) October 31, 2000
Charlotte, North Carolina
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school:Providence Day (Charlotte)
College:NC State (2019–2021)
NFL Draft:2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Roster status:Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards
Player stats at PFR

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.[2]

College career

Ekwonu started the final seven games of his freshman season at left tackle and led the team with 37 pancake blocks and was named to the FWAA Freshman All-America team.[3] He began his sophomore season as the Wolfpack's starting left guard.[4][5] 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.[6]

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.[7] He was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the ACC and was also a unanimous All-American selection.[8]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
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 s1.72 s2.88 s4.73 s7.82 s29.0 in
(0.74 m)		9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		26 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10]

Following the end of the 2021 season, Ekwonu announced that he would forgo his remaining college eligibility to enter the 2022 NFL Draft, where he was selected sixth overall by the Carolina Panthers.[11]

Personal life

Ekwonu majored in business administration at NC State. His father was a basketball player from Nigeria, while a twin brother, Osita, plays linebacker for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.[12] His nickname, Ickey, was given to him by a former coach who noted his resemblance to running back Ickey Woods.[13]

Notes
  1. /ˌiːkɛmˈɛfuːnə (iːˈkɛm) ɛˈkwɔːnuː/ EE-kem-EF-oo-nə "ee-KEM" eh-KWON-oo

References
  1. Bryan, Will (2022-04-29). "Get to know Ickey Ekwonu". Carolina Panthers.
  2. "Talented OL Ikem Ekwonu commits to NC State". July 16, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. "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.
  4. 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.
  5. Friedlander, Brett (September 17, 2020). "Ekwonu Comfortable With Move to Guard". SI.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. "The key to neutralizing Clemson's d-line rest on this NC State player". The Charlotte Observer. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. "NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu has fine-tuned his game this summer". August 10, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  8. "N.C. State's Ikem Ekwonu is college football's 'Pancake King'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. December 23, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  9. "Ickey Ekwonu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  10. "2022 Draft Scout Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  11. "Panthers select N.C. State tackle Ickey Ekwonu in first round of draft". www.panthers.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  12. "Ikem Ekwonu". gopack.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  13. "Ikem Ekwonu". gopack.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
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