Big moment not too big for big man Ekwonu

True freshman Ikem "Ickey" Ekwonu played well in his first career start Thursday while filling in for injured left tackle Justin Witt

Rob Kinnan/USAToday sports

Other than quarterback, there is arguably no more important position on the football field than left tackle.

It's not the kind of place you'd like to see a true freshman making his first carer start.

But that's where Ikem "Ickey Ekwonu was last Thursday when NC State lined up against ACC Atlantic rival Syracuse. The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Charlotte native was pressed into service because of an injury to starter Justin Witt, the Wolfpack's most reliable blocker.

Despite his lack of experience, Ekwonu was equal to the task, anchoring an offensive line that paved the way for the Wolfpack's 16-10 victory at Carter-Finley Stadium. It was a big moment that wasn't too big for a supersized youngster with a big future.

"I don''t really get nervous that much," Ekwonu said. "I think that goes off of when I wrestled in high school. Just a man on a man, everyone's looking at you, so that just kind of kills the nerves right there. I just feel like part of a collective, part of the offensive line as a whole."

While the Syracuse game marked Ekwonu's first start, it was hardly his first experience on the field this season. He had seen action in all five of his team's games to that point, playing as many as 64 snaps in a hostile environment at Florida State.

So while starting assignment was something new for him, it wasn't exactly unfamiliar territory. That's why coach Dave Doeren had the confidence to put him into such an important role so early in his career.

It was a confidence Ekwonu rewarded with his performance. 

"He did some things really well," Doeren said. "On the first play of the game he had a pancake block, on that first play which was a drop-back pass. He handled it.

"There’s some things obviously that all five of those guys have to do better, but first start playing against the level of play he had in Syracuse, that’s in my opinion the very best they had in that rotation. Their front is very good."

Ekwonu was a bit more critical of his performance than his coach.

"There's definitely some stuff I've got to work on, especially pass setting-wise," he said. "Giving up three sacks, as an offensive line, it's not to our standards. So for me, I need to work on pass sets, inside footwork and stuff like that. 

"It was nice to start the game.But there are things I've still got to work on, especially against D-ends like Syracuse has. It was an experience."

The fact that Ekwonu is playing so well isn't that unexpected. He came to State as a three-star prospect and a key member of Doeren's 2019 recruiting class. The big surprise is that he's able to contribute as such a high level so soon, considering that -- unlike a lot of other incoming freshmen -- he didn't enroll early or participate in spring practice.

He made up for lost time by picking up on things quickly and working as hard as anyone in preseason camp. And he wasn't satisfied with just earning a spot in the Wolfpack's offensive line rotation.

"I didn't really have any expectations about playing time," Ekwonu said. "I came here, I just wanted to work on my craft and get better and really just get to work. Whatever happens, happens my first year as long as I know I'm working as hard as I can and not missing any days when I'm on the field. ... I'm just glad to get the opportunity."