OT Rankings: Ikem Ekwonu

With the season underway players have had the opportunity to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Ikem Ekwonu, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football OT Rankings here.

North Carolina State offensive tackle, Ikem Ekwonu is a key piece of the Wolfpack offense. Ekwonu is an athletic blocker who has held down the left tackle spot and performed at a high level all season. He leads the way for an offensive line that has given up just 1.8 sacks per game and has paved the way for the fourth leading running attack in the ACC. Ekwonu has been stellar, holding up on the quarterback’s blindside all season, including against Clemson’s vaunted defensive line.

Ekwonu is a natural athlete, who moves surprisingly well for a player his size. He plays with good bend and has the quick feet and lateral agility to stay in front of defensive ends on the edge. Ekwonu has a quick kick step and gets into his pass blocking sets efficiently, giving him time to adjust to the pass rushers and take them on with a strong base. He is difficult to get off balance and does a good job of keeping his feet under him and holding opposing pass rushers at bay.

At 6’4″ 320 lbs, Ekwonu is a powerful player who can overpower his man in pass protection or as a run blocker. He uses his athleticism to get in position to make the block, but then also has the power to clear space for his running backs. Ekwonu has gotten better getting low and delivering blocks with good leverage to accentuate his power. His combination of strength and athleticism makes him a tough blocker for defenses to contend with.

Ikem Ekwonu still has room to add some polish to his game. He has decent arm length, but relies more on his feet and agility until he engages blockers. He has shown improvement as a run blocker and has been playing with an attitude in 2021. As Ekwonu has continued to develop he has become one of the best offensive lineman in college football.

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