Ikem Ekwonu

Ikemefuna Patrick "Ickey" Ekwonu (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. Early life and high school Ekwonu grew up around Matthews, North Carolina, and attended Providence Day School. Ekwonu committed to play college football at North Carolina State over numerous Power 5 offers. 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. He began his sophomore season as the Wolfpack's starting left guard. 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. 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. He was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the ACC and was also a unanimous All-American selection.