The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1436409
TRACKING THE PACK JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ■ 13 Etch your name into Wolfpack History WOLF TRACKS DONOR WALL Help fulfill the vision by leaving your legacy etched on the Wolf Tracks wall in the newly renovated Walk of Fame & History in Reynolds Coliseum. • Orders will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Orders cannot be filled after the 700 spaces are sold. • You will receive a confirmation email within 30 days of your order. Please review it carefully. If corrections are required, please notify us at majorgifts@wolfpackclub.com or 919-865-1500. • In order for the Wolfpack Club to accommodate requests for plaques to be placed next to each other, these orders must be placed together with proper instructions. Every effort will be made to accommodate these requests. • Your message must fit within the spaces provided on the plaque size. • All text will be a standard size, font, and style. Greek letters and other symbols not found on a standard keyboard may not be used. • The Wolfpack Club reserves the right to exclude orders that it deems to contain inappropriate language. • The Wolfpack Club will determine the final placement of all plaques. • Message area is 330 characters maximum, with a signature line of 75 characters. Plaques are $5,000, payable over 5 years to the Wolfpack Club. NC State Student Aid Association | PO Box 37100, Raleigh, NC 27627 | 919.865.1500 | www.wolfpackclub.com To secure your Wolf Tracks, please visit www.wolfpackclub.com/wolftracks. wolf tracks half page.indd 1 8/21/2018 10:45:16 AM Star sophomore offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu had not de- clared for the NFL Draft as of Dec. 7, but it seems like a mere formality considering how high draft analysts are on the 6-4, 320-pounder. He's been called everything from "the most feared lineman in the ACC" (The Athletic) to "the single most dominant run- blocking tackle in the country" (Pro Football Focus). Bleacher Report's NFL scouting department named Ekwonu the best run blocker, zone blocker and most versatile among tackle pros- pects eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft. "Ekwonu bullies pass-rushers," ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. marveled. "He toys with them." But it's not just his "strong and powerful run blocking with the required nasty streak" (Sporting News) that has drawn ac- claim. Ekwonu's offseason focus on pass blocking has caught the eye of evaluators. The Athletic's Dane Brugler recently spotlighted one highlight on Twitter of Ekwonu throwing a pass-rusher to the ground, noting it "may be the most violent snatch-and-finish I've seen from a college blocker. Ekwonu has some truly special abilities." It's no surprise Brugler seems to be the most vocal propo- nent of Ekwonu for the draft, noting when he listed him the No. 5 overall prospect for the event: "I have been blown away by his improvements in pass protection. … No offensive line- man in this draft class has more upside than 'Ickey.'" Here's where some of the biggest and most recognizable NFL Draft analysts list Ekwonu on their big boards of the top overall prospects and mock drafts heading into college football's postseason. — Ryan Tice EKWONU ON BIG BOARDS Outlet Analyst Updated Overall Rank The Athletic Dane Brugler Nov. 10 5 Bleacher Report Entire scouting department Nov. 30 6 PFF Mike Renner Nov. 29 10 Sporting News Vinnie Iyer Dec. 4 11 CBS Sports Entire scouting department Nov. 19 12 ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. Dec. 7 18 EKWONU IN MOCK DRAFTS Outlet Analyst Updated Overall Pick CBS Sports Ryan Wilson Dec. 4 3 CBS Sports Josh Edwards Dec. 4 4 ESPN Jordan Reid Nov. 17 5 DraftWire Luke Easterling Dec. 2 5 The Athletic Dane Brugler Nov. 30 5 Sporting News Vinnie Iyer Dec. 4 7 PFF Mike Renner Nov. 1 19 CHARTING THE PACK Ikem Ekwonu Is A Consensus First-Round NFL Draft Pick