Football

Panthers drafting Ikem Ekwonu brings him home to Charlotte — and fans love it!

By Alex Zietlow

Updated April 30, 2022 11:06 AM

Panthers NFL Draft

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The Carolina Panthers selected Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu in the first round of NFL draft Thursday, and the offensive tackle is receiving a warm homecoming.

After a few surprises in the first five picks — including the New York Giants taking Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 5 — Ekwonu, a Charlotte native and N.C. State star who was widely considered the best offensive lineman in the draft, fell in Carolina’s lap.

Fans, media sites and others have reacted mostly in jubilation. And that feeling is shared by Ekwonu himself.

“This is a dream come true,” Ekwonu told the NFL Network after getting picked. “This whole moment just feels so surreal. The fact that I’ve been growing up being a Carolina Panthers fan and now I’m about to be in that building, it’s really just crazy to me.”

North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu takes selfies with fans after being picked by the Carolina Panthers with the sixth pick of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. John Locher AP

Here’s the general online reaction to the pick of Ekwonu.

Ikem Ekwonu reactions on Twitter

Born in Charlotte, played high school at Providence Day, played college at NC State and now plays professionally for the Panthers.

Very cool.
— Bryan Ives (@awaytoworthy) April 29, 2022

Ikem Ekwonu!! My Nigerian brotha, I see you oooo!! Naija no dey carry last!

1 Nigerian off the board in the #NFLDraft #Panthers pic.twitter.com/M1fAYnJFqb
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 29, 2022

Bruh we really got Ikem Ekwonu. I thought dude was going top 3
— The 4 Man Rush (@4ourmanrush) April 29, 2022

Drop a GIF of your reaction when the #Panthers picked Ikem Ekwonu.
— Michael Rimmer (@AVL_Mike) April 29, 2022

Pumped. https://t.co/LFl7xiPYu1
— Y - nathan (@Timberguy871) April 29, 2022

I dislike NC State, but I like this pick! I think QB is next and I’m thinking we keep it local with Sam Howell! They might have to trade up to get him in the third round instead of the fourth. #KeepPounding #NFLDraft https://t.co/WbMjokwUdi
— Miguel Jackson (@miguelajackson) April 29, 2022

The #Panthers actually did something right for once!! https://t.co/vGzVxkGSk7
— DTuck (@dtuck63) April 29, 2022

Woooooohooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t believe we got Ickey and he’s staying home!!!!!! Huge, huge get for the Panthers. #KeepPounding @PackFootball https://t.co/UEh8hB6EZ1
— Mark Majors (@majors49) April 29, 2022

First Offensive Player taken in the Draft and he gets to stay home!!! God is Good!!! pic.twitter.com/DBinYBFqEs
— Dave Doeren (@StateCoachD) April 29, 2022

What a day let’s go Panthers!!! pic.twitter.com/Xn2EiKto83
— Coach Adam Hastings (@hastings_coach) April 29, 2022

You’ve given me hope again @Panthers https://t.co/T03izVHS9Z
— Eli Jones (@EliJones20) April 29, 2022

Guess I'll have to go to a panthers game or two later this year. #KeepPounding #WPN https://t.co/TSl5gaCYbJ
— Jessianne Pipkins, MPA (@j_a_pip) April 29, 2022

This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Panthers drafting Ikem Ekwonu brings him home to Charlotte — and fans love it!."

Alex Zietlow

The Herald

Alex Zietlow writes about sports and the ways in which they intersect with life in York, Chester and Lancaster counties for The Herald, where he has been an editor and reporter since August 2019. Zietlow has won nine S.C. Press Association awards in his career, including First Place finishes in Feature Writing, Sports Enterprise Writing and Education Beat Reporting. He also received two Top-10 awards in the 2021 APSE writing contest and was nominated for the 2022 U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Rising Star award for his coverage of the Winthrop men’s basketball team.