In the upcoming draft, Ikem Ekwonu is considered a potential No. 1 pick. The O-lineman is then looking to conquer the NFL as a quarterback-bodyguard.

Munich – As a child, Ikem Ekwonu saved 99 Dalmatians. In the future, the 21-year-old is expected to protect his quarterback.

The O-lineman is considered a potential number 1 pick in the upcoming draft – and is already used to the stage. As an eleven-year-old he played in musicals, in “The Jungle Book” or “Aristocats” as well as in “101 Dalmatians”.

As Pongo. The lead role, that is.

“I felt like I was pretty good,” Ekwonu said. “It was a big step for me,” Ekwonu said. “He’s the father of all dogs. Throughout the show, I’m looking for my babies. That was my biggest part. “

The NFL as a new stage

Now the NFL is to be his stage for his biggest role.

He’s well prepared for it. He spent three seasons at North Carolina State, steadily developing from a three-star lineman into a top pick. In that time, he allowed ten sacks and 51 pressures as a left tackle/left guard.

He comes mainly through his athleticism, his physicality, if the 1.93 metre tall and 140 kilogram Ekwonu In motion, you do not want to get in his way.

This is no coincidence, he was born with the physical prerequisites. His full first name (Ikemefuna) is already a kind of promise, in the Nigerian Igbo language it means “My effort will not be in vain”. “He has lived up to his name,” his father T.J. told USA Today. “Everything he wanted, he achieved. But he also had fun in everything he did. Even in sports, when he played football at a young age, he was always laughing and smiling.” That he saw football as fun above all else is still the case today. “I’ve never lost the playfulness of the game. When I’m out there running, I’m always smiling, even now,” Ekwonu said.

Father T.J. played college basketball before coming to the United States from Nigeria, and his mother Amaka was a track star in high school. He’s had the nickname “Ickey” since his days with the Pop Warner Football youth sports organisation, where his size reminded his coach of former Bengals running back Elbert “Ickey Woods.” He always celebrated his touchdowns with the “Ickey Shuffle”.

The shuffle is ready

As Ekwonu revealed on Yahoo Sports, he has prepared his own interpretation of the shuffle for just the right moment. Even though touchdowns are not his job.

He uses his own experience as a State Champion wrestler against generic defence, run blocking is his speciality. He combines agility and speed with outstanding strength to downright dominate opponents.

“I’ve always had the mindset that I want to bury anyone in front of me. I just want to dominate. That’s the attitude I’ve always had,” he said. “He’s one of those guys who puts his helmet on and changes,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren told the Fayetteville Observer. “He wants to take people down.”

The downside: the aggressive approach can lead to technical mistakes in pass protection. His footwork, in particular, will play an important role at a higher level in the NFL.

But Ekwonu knows he has to learn. The coaches and general managers can be sure he wants to. “I have a high football IQ and love talking to coaches about the game and learning. I’ve never been afraid to work on myself and refine my game. If I have weaknesses in pass protection, I want the coaches and GMs to know I’m going to fix it. “

Ekwonu knows how to sell

As a business graduate, he knows how to sell. How to sell.

As a teenager, Ekwonu spent a summer selling Cutco knives at front doors, ensuring strong sales with charm, knowledge and demeanour. His performances in talks with teams also leave potential employers feeling that Ekwonu can also add to the locker room – as important to many teams as qualities on the pitch. That he’s considered a potential No. 1 pick also has to do with the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars could well use someone at No. 1 to protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

But even if they don’t, the top five should be safe.

He’s already made numerous arguments in his favour. But he sees himself primarily as a left tackle, not a guard, he said. “I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of my potential. I feel that with a little more development and refinement in my game, I can be great at that position.”

After all, he already was as a Dalmatians saviour.