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Anthony Rizzuti

Watch Ikem Ekwonu get his draft call from the Panthers

Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu David Tepper Matt Rhule Scott Fitterer Carolina Panrs

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule had himself a ball on the horn last year with his 2021 draft picks. Well, he was at it again tonight.

The cameras were back in the war room on Thursday for the team’s selection of University of North Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu. A Charlotte native and a Panthers fans from youth, Ekwonu was audibly overjoyed in being announced as 2022’s sixth overall selection.

Oh, and so were Rhule, owner David Tepper and general manager Scott Fitterer . . .

We're fired up too, @BigIck79 @Lowes | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/fQDqtWhESg

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 29, 2022

As Fitterer told Ekwonu, there was reasonable doubt (wink, wink) the 6-foot-4, 310-pound bruiser would even last to Carolina. But, the dominoes fell in the right order.

The Jacksonville Jaguars went with Travon Walker. The Detroit Lions went with Aidan Hutchinson. The Houston Texans went with Derek Stingley Jr. The New York Jets went with Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Then the New York Giants went with Kayvon Thibodeaux.

That, surprinsingly, left the Panthers with their choice of the class’ top three hog mollies. And their choice was definitely happy to pick up his phone for that 704 area code.

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