No. 79 – Carolina Panthers | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Matthews, North Carolina, U.S. | October 31, 2000||||
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 2023 | |||||
| |||||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Ikemefuna Patrick "Ickey" Ekwonu [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 N.C. 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.
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]
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]
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]
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. [14] His nickname, Ickey, was given to him by a former coach who noted his resemblance to running back Ickey Woods. [15]
Lindsey Todd Fordham is a former American football player who is currently retired. Fordham played as an offensive tackle/offensive guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers of the NFL for ten seasons. He played college football at Florida State University.
Marcus Hudson is a former American football defensive back. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State.
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in the sport of American football. The Wolfpack competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Prior to joining the ACC in 1953, the Wolfpack were a member of the Southern Conference. As a founding member of the ACC, the Wolfpack has won seven conference championships and participated in 34 bowl games, of which the team has won 17. NC State is coached by Dave Doeren.
Jeffery Wayne King is a former American football tight end and current co-director of player personnel for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football and basketball for Virginia Tech. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Jacob David Bender is a former American football guard and offensive tackle. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nicholls State University.
Justin Ross "J. R." Sweezy is a former American football guard. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round, 225th overall, of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at NC State.
Gabriel C. Jackson is an American football guard for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State.
Cameron Drew Erving is an American football offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Florida State and has played in the NFL for the Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Carolina Panthers.
Trai Denzell Turner is an American football offensive guard for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, where he made the Pro Bowl every year from 2015 to 2019. Turner has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Commanders.
Bill Yoest is an American former football offensive tackle who played college football for the NC State Wolfpack, where he was a consensus All-American in 1973. He played for the Houston Texans and the Florida Blazers of the World Football League (WFL).
Juston Burris is a former American football safety. He played college football at NC State and was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jets, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers.
Bradley Austin Chubb is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State, and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Nyheim Arthur Hines is an American football running back and punt returner for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Trenton Denzel Scott is an American football offensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Grambling State. Scott has also been a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dennis Daley is an American football offensive tackle for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina.
Larrell Montale Murchison is an American football defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State.
Nicholas Petit-Frere is an American football offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State.
Trenton Gill is an American football punter for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State.
Tanner Ingle is an American football safety for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State.
Cory Durden is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and NC State.