INDIANAPOLIS — Before Ikem Ekwonu was one of the best offensive linemen in college football, he had a short-lived career in musical theatre.
Ekwonu said at Thursday’s NFL combine he appeared in several productions as a fifth grader growing up in Charlotte, NC.
He was a background character in “The Jungle Book.” He played an alley cat in “The Aristocats.” Eventually, he landed the lead as Pongo in “101 Dalmatians.”
“That was a big step for me,” Ekwonu said Thursday at the NFL combine. “He’s the father of all the dogs. Throughout the whole show, I’m looking for my babies. That was my biggest role.”
Now a chief protector of quarterbacks, Ekwonu is one of two offensive linemen with a chance to go No. 1 overall in April’s NFL draft.
Linemen and running backs work out at the combine Friday, though Ekwonu’s competition to be the first blocker off the board, Alabama’s Evan Neal, said he will not participate in drills.
“It was a long season,” said Neal, who helped Alabama reach the national championship game. “I had a long season. I wanted to give myself a little bit more time to prepare so me and my agents thought this would be the best route to take.”
More: NFL mock draft 1.0: Detroit Lions get help for defense, pass on QB in Rounds 1-2
Both Neal and Ekwonu offer size, experience and versatility as a prospect, and both could help the Jacksonville Jaguars, owners of the No. 1 pick, in their quest to build a better supporting cast around second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Neal started as a true freshman at Alabama and finished with 40 starts in his college career. He played primarily left guard as a freshman, moved to right tackle as a sophomore and earned All-American status last season as a junior.
Ekwonwu played left guard and left tackle at North Carolina State, but projects as an edge protector in the NFL.
“I definitely see myself as a left tackle,” he said. “I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of my potential. I feel like with a little more development and refinement in my game I can be great at that position. I definitely feel great at left tackle.”
If the Jaguars take Neal or Ekwonu at No. 1, that likely would leave the non-offensive line-needy Lions with their choice of pass rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 2.
Both linemen said Thursday they feel they are worth the No. 1 pick.
“It would mean a lot to me,” Ekwonu said. “I’ve worked really hard throughout all my years at N.C. State and throughout the offseason. I wouldn’t be shocked if I went No. 1 overall. I feel like that is something I put the work in for it. I feel like when the time comes, I would deserve it.”
Shoot first
Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller offered a unique comparison for himself Thursday – on the basketball court.
“James Harden,” Spiller said. “I’m a shooter. Don’t pass me the ball. I’m not passing it back.”
Spiller, who ran for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns last season, is the top running back in this year’s draft and one of the few backs with a chance to go in the first round.
At least running back has gone in Round 1 every year since 2014, and Spiller said his dual-threat ability sets him apart as a player. Along with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Spiller caught at least 20 passes in each of his three years at A&M.
“The game’s kind of going towards passing,” Spiller said. “I feel like I can catch really well. I didn’t drop a ball this year so I really like to show that (in combine workouts) and continue to show that throughout my career. Helping teams out on third down is really important. I feel like if I can do that, then my value’s really high.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.