Ikem Ekwonu

Ikem Ekwonu
refer to caption
Ekwonu at the 2022 NFL Draft
No. 79 – Carolina Panthers
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (2000-10-31) October 31, 2000 (age 24)
Matthews, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school:Providence Day
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
College:NC State (2019–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / round: 1 / pick: 6
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Games played:42
Games started:42
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ikemefuna Patrick "Ickey" Ekwonu[a] (born October 31, 2000) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Of Nigerian descent, he played college football at NC 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.

Early life

Ekwonu grew up around Matthews, North Carolina, and attended Providence Day School.[1] Ekwonu committed to play college football at North Carolina State over numerous Power 5 offers.[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 Football Writers Association of America 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
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench 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 s 1.72 s 2.88 s 4.73 s 7.82 s 29.0 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 in the first round with the sixth overall pick by the Carolina Panthers.[11] On May 11, 2022, Ekwonu signed a four-year deal with the Panthers worth $27.6 million featuring a signing bonus of $17.2 million and a fifth year-option.[12] As a rookie, he played in and started all 17 games for the Panthers in the 2022 season.[13] He started in all 17 games in the 2023 season.[14]

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.[15] His nickname, Ickey, was given to him by a former coach who noted his resemblance to running back Ickey Woods.[16]

Notes

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

References

  1. ^ DeLaunay, Tommy (May 2, 2022). "Providence Day Graduate Ekwonu Drafted No. 6 in NFL Draft". MileSplit North Carolina. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Clark, Michael (July 16, 2018). "Talented OL Ikem Ekwonu commits to NC State". 247Sports. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Pope IV, Jonas (November 19, 2020). "NC State's Ikem Ekwonu is the Pancake King of Raleigh. He has syrup bottles to prove it". The News & Observer. 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. ^ Wiliams, Justin H. (August 10, 2021). "NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu has fine-tuned his game this summer". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Miller, Bryce (December 23, 2021). "N.C. State's Ikem Ekwonu is college football's 'Pancake King'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. 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". Panthers.com. April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  12. ^ Callihan, Schuyler (May 10, 2022). "Ikem Ekwonu Signs Rookie Contract with Panthers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Ikem Ekwonu 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  14. ^ "Ikem Ekwonu 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "Ikem Ekwonu - 2021 - Football". NC State University Athletics. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Bryan, Will (April 29, 2022). "Get to know Ickey Ekwonu". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved February 18, 2023.