Ikem Ekwonu earned the opportunity to start at left tackle for North Carolina State as a true freshman in 2019 and he quickly developed into one of the most dynamic blockers in the country. His tenacity, size, devastating power at the point of attack, and football intelligence position him well to become an entrenched starter in the NFL. The toughness and physicality of his NFL team will immediately be improved with his addition.

Ekwonu took a notable step forward in 2021 but he does have room to grow when it comes to weight distribution, taking away inside pass rush moves, and occasionally being too aggressive, which leads to blocks not being sustained long enough. Ekwonu hails from a family of athletes. His twin brother plays linebacker at Notre Dame, his father played college basketball in Nigeria, and his mother was a track star in high school. Ekwonu wrestled in high school in addition to his time on the gridiron. Ekwonu has the makings of a year-one impact starter with Pro Bowl potential by year three.

Ideal Role: Starting left tackle

Scheme Fit: Wide zone rushing attack but he’s a universal scheme fit

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Joe Marino 

Games watched: Miami (2020), North Carolina (2020), Pittsburgh (2020), Mississippi State (2021), Clemson (2021), Miami (2021), Wake Forest (2021)

Best Game Studied: Mississippi State (2021)

Worst Game Studied: Miami (2020)

Balance: In the run game, Ekwonu creates notable movement while remaining in control of his frame despite an aggressive demeanor. He operates in space with good balance and rarely overextends himself. In pass protection, Ekwonu’s desire to latch quickly can lead to some top-heavy reps where he folds at the waist. His overall coordination took a major step forward in 2021 compared to what the 2020 tape revealed.

Pass Sets: Ekwonu thrives when he’s able to get on top of defenders quickly and set the clamps. With that said, his growth in 2021 to frame rushers with more traditional pass sets is notable. The Clemson 2021 game did present some challenges for Ekwonu shutting down the inside move, but his length, power, and tenacity often made it possible for him to recover.

Competitive Toughness: See Above.

Lateral Mobility: Ekwonu has sufficient lateral movement skills and his best moments show up on wide zone runs where his mobility, timing, and feel for widening running lanes stand out. His lateral quickness can be less impressive in pass protection when forced to quickly redirect his weight and stay connected to inside moves where his face gets crossed. He has his share of stand-out reps on longer pulls where he works outside the numbers, gets to his landmarks, and makes impact blocks in space.

Length: Ekwonu has the length needed to play offensive tackle in the NFL and he does a terrific job of maximizing his reach. His consistency with hand placement in the run game accentuates his length and he also does well to increase his radius in space by utilizing his long arms and trusting his technique. He understands and takes advantage of his opportunities to widen rush lanes and protect the width of the pocket when threatened to the outside.

Football IQ: See Above.

Hand Technique: Ekwonu has devastating power in his hands and he routinely delivers knockout blows. He does a tremendous job latching his hands in the run game and finding leverage points to exploit on his opponents. In pass protection, Ekwonu has low hand carriage which leads to elongated strikes and some instances where opponents are able to work into his frame. He does well to vary his strikes.

Anchor Ability: Ekwonu has no issues leveraging his hips and anchoring at the point of attack. Pass rushers are foolish to think they can bull rush and play through him on the edge. His power and mass make it look easy for Ekwonu to absorb power.

Power at POA: See Above.

Versatility: Ekwonu has three years of starting experience at left tackle but has also played more than 200 snaps at left guard. While I believe he can be a standout left tackle in the NFL, his projection to guard is natural and comes without notable concern. He has thrived in NC State’s wide zone rushing attack but there’s no doubt he would also fare well in a gap blocking scheme. He does need continued development with deeper sets, which is something to keep in mind if he’s tasked with playing in a vertical passing offense, although every necessary trait is present to continue the progress he’s made in his career.

SCOUT GRADES

TDN Consensus: 91.00/100 (Top 10 Overall Value)

Crabbs Grade: 87.50/100

Marino Grade: 92.00/100

Harris Grade: 92.00/100

Sanchez Grade: 92.00/100

Weissman Grade: 92.50/100

Parson Grade: 90.00/100