Ikemefuna Ekwonu is an offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was born on October 31, 2000.
He is of Nigerian descent and attended North Carolina State University, where he was named a consensus All-American and awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s outstanding blocker in 2021. The Panthers picked Ekwonu sixth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Ekwonu started the last seven games of his rookie season at left tackle, leading the team with 37 pancake blocks and earning a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-America team.
He started as a left guard for the Wolfpack in his second season. Ekwonu was shifted back to left tackle for the season and led the Wolfpack with 50 pancake blocks and 22 knockdowns, earning second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors at both guard and tackle.
Going into the 2021 season, Ekwonu was selected as a preseason All-ACC selection as well as a preseason All-American by Pro Football Focus and Sporting News.
He received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the finest ACC blocker and was a unanimous All-American pick.
