Miami football best player for each 2020 ACC opponent

North Carolina State Offensive Tackle Ikem Ekwonu

North Carolina State sophomore 6’4 325-pound offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu will be an excellent matchup for the defensive line for the Miami football team.

The battle between Ekwonu and the Hurricanes edge rushers is another one added to the 2020 schedule that would not have previously been seen.

Ekwonu was named a freshman All-American in 2019 by the Football Writers of American and Pro Football Focus. Ekwonu was the first true freshman to start at OT for North Carolina State since 2010.

Ekwonu did not allow a sack in 2019 and graded out with an 85.0 run-blocking grade as a freshman from PFF via Inside the U. North Carolina State finished 4-8 overall in 2019 which was second-worst in the ACC and the Wolfpack’s 1-7 ACC record was the worst in the conference.

North Carolina State finished 12th in scoring offense and 11th in total offense in the ACC in 2019. If the Wolfpack are going to slow Miami they are going to have to play a tight game. Expect Dave Doeren to try the establish the run behind Ekwonu to slow the Miami pass rush led by Rousseau and Quincy Roche.

Doeren could be facing a must-win year to keep his job after the disastrous season that North Carolina State had in 2019.