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Ikem Ekwonu adds to his growing list of All-America honors

MattCarterby:Matt Carter•12/13/21•

TheWolfpacker

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Ikem Ekwonu is now considered a potential high first-round pick. (Photo courtesy ACC)

Monday morning provided NC State football sophomore left tackle Ikem Ekwonu with yet another All-America honor.

He was named first-team by the Associated Press and Sporting News.

Earlier, Ekwonu made All-America teams done by The Athletic, CBS Sports, Action Network, the inaugural version for On3, the Walter Camp Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America.

“Ekwonu’s nickname is ‘Ickey,’ but his play has been anything, but his parents are from Nigeria and his full first name is Ikemefuna, which translated means ‘my effort will not be in vain.’ Indeed, his effort is a big reason NC State is 9-3 — and a big reason he’s considered a sure-fire first-round pick,” Mike Huguenin wrote for On3.

Ekwonu did not take home the Outland Trophy last week, with the award going to Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, but he was one of three finalists for the honor given to the nation’s top lineman.

He was also the recipient of the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, the first winner from NC State football since Jim Ritcher in 1979.

Ekwonu finished the regular season with 67 pancake blocks and 18 knockdowns, and was a two-time ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder allowed just two sacks in 829 snaps. Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks Ekwonu as the top run blocker in college football.

Ekwonu has not publicly declared his entry into the NFL Draft yet, but he is widely expected to be a top-half of the first-round selection if he does. Some early mock projections have Ekwonu going top five.

NC State football went 9-3 during the regular season, and it has been selected to play in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl Dec. 28 against UCLA in San Diego in Petco Park.

The game will be an 8 p.m. kickoff and televised nationally by FOX.

Ekwonu, who walked on Senior Day, has not declared if he will play in the game or not.

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