The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1389905
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER OFFENSIVE LINE Collecting Syrup Bottles BY JUSTIN H. WILLIAMS T he goal for an NC State offensive lineman is simple: do your job and collect as many maple syrup bottles as possible. The syrup bottles aren't for breakfast, however. They're rewards to acknowledge pancake blocks in games. After wins, pancake blocks are celebrated in the offensive film review session like an award show. Sophomore tackle Ikem Ekwonu racked up a whole cupboard's worth of bottles last fall, accumulating a team-high 50 pancake blocks and 22 knockdowns. He returns after earning third-team All-ACC honors in 2020 and will protect redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary's blind side at left tackle. Redshirt junior center Grant Gibson is also back after starting the past 24 games for the Wolfpack. He was a team captain last season, and Pro Football Focus ranked him third nationally among return- ing interior offensive linemen in college football this fall. To round out the remainder of the starting unit, six players are expected to compete for the remaining three spots. Sixth-year senior Tyrone Riley, redshirt junior Bryson Speas and redshirt freshman Dylan McMahon combine for 29 starts. Redshirt sophomore Derrick Eason started at right guard in the spring game and has 16 career appearances, including four last season. There is also Fairmont State graduate transfer Chandler Zavala, a former Division II All-American, and sophomore Anthony Belton, who was ranked No. 5 nationally among junior college offensive tackles by 247Sports.com. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER SOPHOMORE TACKLE IKEM EKWONU Sophomore tackle Ikem Ekwonu was a three-star recruit ranked No. 38 overall in North Carolina's 2019 class by Rivals.com. The 6-4, 320-pounder was a pleasant surprise once he arrived in Raleigh, earning a starting role as a true freshman. Since earning that job, he's been a walking highlight reel on the offensive line with his devastat - ing blocks. The Athletic called Ekwonu "the most feared line- man in the ACC" this summer. He was also named the 10th-best returning offensive tackle in col- lege football this season by Pro Football Focus (PFF). According to PFF, Ekwonu earned the second-highest run- blocking grade in the conference last season, second only to Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw, who was selected No. 23 overall in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★½ NC State's line should be an above-average unit in the conference, headlined by preseason All-ACC selections sophomore Ikem Ekwonu and redshirt junior Grant Gib- son. Athlon Sports gave Ekwonu first-team honors and put Gibson on its second team. Redshirt junior Bryson Speas was the Swiss Army knife on the offensive front last season and can start at guard or tackle. Redshirt freshman Dylan McMahon ap- peared in nine games and started seven last season. Offensive line coach John Gar- rison raves about him. Fairmont State graduate transfer Chandler Zavala could round out the starting front, but has some catching up to do after enrolling in the summer. DEPTH ★★½ With eight potential starters, the top end of the backups will be more than capable of filling in when needed. Graduate tackle Tyrone Riley is entering his seventh season with the program and will provide an experienced option if he can stay healthy. The 6-6, 305-pounder started all five of his appearances in 2020. Redshirt sophomore Derrick Eason had a strong offseason, and it wouldn't come as a surprise to see him in the starting unit for game one. Behind Riley and Eason, there is certainly potential, but the talent is unproven. EXPERIENCE ★★½ Four of the eight contenders for starting roles are technically underclassmen, but their designations can be misleading due to the free year of eligibility the NCAA granted to fall athletes last season. Although Ekwonu is listed as a sophomore and McMahon a redshirt freshman, both will be entering the third season of their college careers. Behind those potential starters, though, there is very little experience. OVERALL ★★½ There is reason to be optimistic about the offensive line heading into the fall, but the group will need to stay healthy to improve in 2021. The starting lineup has the potential to be better than last season's unit, but the lack of experience in the bot- tom half of the position group could present challenges if a couple contributors suf- fer injuries. Ekwonu and Gibson will be among the ACC's best at their respective positions, but the rest of the group still has more to prove. BY THE NUMBERS 857 Snaps redshirt junior Grant Gibson played in 2020, the second-most on the team. Gibson played every offensive snap of the regular season but had an early departure in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Kentucky due to an injury. 73 Is the number of combined career starts at NC State among the Wolfpack's offensive linemen. Gibson has the most with 24, and sophomore tackle Ikem Ekwonu is second with 19. 5th Is NC State's preseason ranking among the ACC's offensive lines in the Athlon Sports College Football 2021 preview magazine. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 79 Ikem Ekwonu (LT) So. 6-4 320 Charlotte 54 Dylan McMahon (LG/RG) R-Fr. 6-4 300 Savannah, Ga. 50 Grant Gibson (C) R-Jr. 6-1 305 Charlotte 64 Chandler Zavala (RG/LG) Gr. 6-5 325 Boynton Beach, Fla. 56 Bryson Speas (RT) R-Jr. 6-3 310 Greensboro, N.C. RESERVES 55 Tyrone Riley 6th-Sr. 6-6 305 Savannah, Ga. 53 Derrick Eason R-So. 6-4 309 Norfolk, Va. 74 Anthony Belton So. 6-6 335 Tallahassee, Fla. 52 Timothy McKay R-Fr. 6-4 300 Raleigh 60 Ethan Lane Fr. 6-3 290 Lawrenceville, Ga. WAITING IN THE WINGS 75 Anthony Carter Jr. Fr. 6-3 310 Charlotte 76 Patrick Matan Fr. 6-4 300 Chevy Chase, Md. 62 Jaleel Davis Fr. 6-6 300 Hamlet, N.C. 72 Sean Hill Fr. 6-3 305 Snellville, Ga. 57 Lyndon Cooper Fr. 6-2 340 Atlanta 71 Thornton Gentry Fr. 6-4 308 Chapin, S.C.