Ikem Ekwonu, NC State

[Martin]

Looking at guards and centers for the draft. One name that comes up a lot is Ikem. Any State fans with insights on him?

[45catfan]

Yup, he's a stud.  He's only been playing LT for two seasons.  Traditionally he's been a G. He's given up a few sacks, but he talent is undeniable. I think he'll slip as a tackle unless someone drafts him as a G.  I hope so, because his arrow is only pointing up and with more coaching and more reps at LT, I think he's going to be a franchise LT.

[Martin]

23 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Yup, he's a stud.  He's only been playing LT for two seasons.  Traditionally he's been a G. He's given up a few sacks, but he talent is undeniable. I think he'll slip as a tackle unless someone drafts him as a G.  I hope so, because his arrow is only pointing up and with more coaching and more reps at LT, I think he's going to be a franchise LT.

I didn’t realize he was a potential LT, thought he was a stud guard. Interesting.

[45catfan]

Local guy too.  Check out his blocking stats...pretty impressive.

Pancakes anyone?

[45catfan]

I don't have PFF to see how he's grading out and his stats for this season thus far.  As a team, State is giving up just under 2 sacks a games, but I can't find a source (for free) where I can get the breakdown of that info by player.  My most liked scouting/daft site has him as the #2 LG prospect and ranked in the mid-twenties range right now.  Hopefully, about where we should realistically be picking in the draft.  Maybe Christensen will be the real deal at LT and we can draft this dude to solidify Darnold's blindside for years to come.

[SOJA]

I'm a UNC fan but man it would be AWESOME if we drafted a guy who is from Charlotte and then went to college in NC and he became a stud at LT, would be such a great story. Rooting for this kid no matter what honestly

[BlackPanther21_]

On 10/9/2021 at 9:41 AM, 45catfan said:

Yup, he's a stud.  He's only been playing LT for two seasons.  Traditionally he's been a G. He's given up a few sacks, but he talent is undeniable. I think he'll slip as a tackle unless someone drafts him as a G.  I hope so, because his arrow is only pointing up and with more coaching and more reps at LT, I think he's going to be a franchise LT.

Hopefully the franchise LT of his hometown team 

[MHS831]

On 10/11/2021 at 6:07 PM, BlackPanther21_ said:

Hopefully the franchise LT of his hometown team 

I think he is a g. He is average as a T, but most experts see him as a G--so we shall see.  Either way, we have multiple needs and if we took him, I would start him off at LT.

[45catfan]

24 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I think he is a g. He is average as a T, but most experts see him as a G--so we shall see.  Either way, we have multiple needs and if we took him, I would start him off at LT.

Do you have access to PFF to see his blocking grades so far this season?  Most college team sites don't give out the "highlights" in a player's bio until the season is over.  I know it's PFF, but it's still some sort of metrics to see how he's playing this season.

[Panthera onca]

Tackle: Ikem Ekwonu, NC State

The Wolfpack's left tackle hasn't allowed a sack in 371 snaps through five games. Even more impressive, he has zero blown blocks on 152 run-play snaps and just three blown blocks all season. A two-time ACC offensive lineman of the week this season, Ekwonu had a career-high 11 pancake blocks against Louisiana Tech and eight more against Clemso

[45catfan]

46 minutes ago, Panthera onca said:

Tackle: Ikem Ekwonu, NC State

The Wolfpack's left tackle hasn't allowed a sack in 371 snaps through five games. Even more impressive, he has zero blown blocks on 152 run-play snaps and just three blown blocks all season. A two-time ACC offensive lineman of the week this season, Ekwonu had a career-high 11 pancake blocks against Louisiana Tech and eight more against Clemson

That's what I'm talking about!  I hope scouts still will view him as a 'tweener G/T.  It may cause him to drop some so we can draft him.

Edited October 18, 2021 by 45catfan

[Panthera onca]

22 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

That's what I'm talking about!  I hope scouts still will view him as a 'tweener G/T.  It may cause him to drop some so we can draft him.

He has a real nasty streak as well. You love to see that in offensive linemen.

[cookinbrak]

Anybody on the State line.

Or Emeka Emezie.

Or Bam Knight.

[kungfoodude]

21 hours ago, 45catfan said:

That's what I'm talking about!  I hope scouts still will view him as a 'tweener G/T.  It may cause him to drop some so we can draft him.

His future is probably an elite OG that can slide to OT. I think most scouts see him as an OG and not an OT. 

I would love to have him in Charlotte. Really, really nasty disposition. Something we haven't seen since Norwell.