NFL Draft Profile: Ikem Ekwonu, Offensive Tackle, NC State Wolfpack
#79
Pos: OT
Ht: 6040
Wt: 310
Hand: 1028
Arm: 3400
Wing: 8428
40: 4.93
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: 7.82
Shuttle: 4.73
Vert: N/A
Broad: N/A
DOB: 10/31/_
Eligible: 2022
Charlotte, NC
Providence Day High School
Ikem Ekwonu
NC State Wolfpack
One-Liners
Powerful and aggressive run blocker who creates movement and finishes. Plays over his toes and struggles in pass protection at tackle.
Pros:
Having lined up at left guard and left tackle, Ekwonu is a very aggressive run blocker who creates a push upfront with great strength. He is very competitive, looking to finish defenders and successfully doing so. Ekwonu creates knockback and deals out body blows with his initial strike. Heavy hands allow him to enforce his will on opponents. When he has good positioning, he displays great grip strength. Ekwonu is quick out of his stance and has the foot speed to mirror laterally at guard. His anchor is strong to absorb power before he gets his hands inside and takes the initiative. Understanding leverage, he works to win it and seal off run lanes.
Cons:
Playing with his chest over his toes along with his aggressive playing style leads to balance issues. Ekwonu gets pulled and can lose his footing in the run game. At tackle, he struggles in pass protection, getting outreached and having his chest attacked due to his wide hands. His punch can be early, causing it to get clubbed. Ekwonu fails to reset his hands quickly, tending to get grabby when in bad positions. He has failed to locate blitzes from the second level.
Summary:
Very strong and aggressive guard who has started at tackle. Ekwonu is a competitive finisher, consistently creating movement in the run game and possessing the footspeed to pass protect on the interior. Playing with his chest over his toes hurts his balance and he struggles in pass protection on an island. Ekwonu projects as a starting guard early on in his career who will make a difference as a run blocker. Technical fixes should allow him to be a very good NFL starter by his second or third season.
Grades
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
1st Round
NFL Draft: Hot Take Tuesday - Ikem Ekwonu will be a Hall of Famer
Quotable
“I wouldn’t be shocked if I went No. 1 overall. I feel like that’s something I’ve put the work in for. With my work ethic … ask any coach — I definitely put the work in. I do everything I can every day to fulfill those expectations.” -- Ikem Ekwonu
“I think I would be the third player in [NC] State history to go No. 1 overall. I wouldn’t be shocked if I went No. 1 overall. I feel like that’s something I’ve put the work in for it. I feel like when that time comes, I wouldn’t be shocked by it.” -- Ikem Ekwonu on being the potential number one pick
"I get in space, and then I kind of know. That's where I use my footwork and technique and knowledge of how to cut off angles, and you just know if this guy wants to make a play, he's going to have to go through me. And he's not doing that. If it's between me and him and there's a collision, I'm winning that." -- Ikem Ekwonu
