Double rice, double chicken, veggies, queso, hot sauce, sour cream, cheese and corn. Mix all that with a determination to play and that is how Ikenna Ezeogu put on 15 pounds this offseason.
Outside of getting back in the film room and on the practice field, Ezeogu knew he needed to put on some size in the offseason to stay on the field. Standing at 6-foot-5, he had the height, but was not satisfied with the 260 pounds he went into last season with.
The Iowa State strength and nutrition departments have been known to work together and help the athletes put on weight during the offseason. But for Ezeogu and his love for Chipotle, the Cyclone football team’s nutritionist has encouraged the young defensive end to make that the main source of his diet.
“As soon as I got here, that is when I realized Chipotle was my meal, it is going to help me grow,” Ezeogu said. “I probably eat [Chipotle] every other day.”
The redshirt sophomore keeps it pretty consistent when he stops by the fast-food Mexican grill, usually getting a burrito and a bowl, and saving one for later.
Along with that, Ezeogu is eating the meals offered by the football facility along with his second helping of Chipotle.
As for the football side of things, Ezeogu is determined to build off his success last season. Defensive line coach Eli Rasheed admitted he did not plan on having Ezeogu getting as much time as he did last season, but his production was too much to keep off the field.
“[Ezeogu] kept developing into a guy we couldn’t take off the field,” Rasheed said. “He’s done a great job working himself into the lineup and having a really good year last year.”
After redshirting his first year with the Cyclones in 2022, Ezeogu made appearances in all 13 games and secured 16 tackles, one sack and three pass breakups.
Seeing time on the field bolstered Ezeogu’s confidence, a key factor for him, but the success he saw proved that he could play at the collegiate level. During the season, he was constantly checking in with his coaches during film sessions to keep his confidence high and make sure he saw results on the field.
“Basically just make sure I am being prepared enough to be more confident on the field,” Ezeogu said.
Rasheed has encouraged the extra questions in the film room, as he believes knowledge of the game is just as important as putting on weight.
Ezeogu already had the height coming out of high school to make him a talented player for the Cyclones. The focus now shifts to learning the game.
“We just have to continue to keep grooming him as far as a football IQ and making sure the football IQ stays up with his body,” Rasheed said.
With his increased size, Rasheed and the rest of the defensive staff have started to move Ezeogu around the trenches. During the offseason, he has started to play more on the strong side and has welcomed the different experiences around the defensive line.
Ezeogu joins J.R. Singleton, Domonique Orange, Joey Petersen and other significant players on the defensive line who are returning to the Cyclones this season. With an offseason full of growth in many areas, Rasheed has confidence that Ezeogu can be the next playmaker for Iowa State in the upcoming season.
“Now can [Ezeogu] be a difference maker for us because honestly, he has all the talent to be that,” Rasheed said.
