Football
Nov 1 (Sat)
12:00 AM
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- Title:
- Offensive Line
- Email:
- jdgarri3@ncsu.edu
- Phone:
- (919) 515-7062
Nebraska ‘03
18th year in coaching, 4th at NC State
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College - A four-year letterman for Frank Solich at Nebraska from 1999 to 2002, earning honorable-mention All-Big 12 accolades as a junior and senior. Nebraska’s starting long snapper as a true freshman in 1999, helping the Huskers to a 12-1 record and Big 12 title. In 2001, moved into the lineup as the starting center and helped Nebraska to an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game. Co-captain as a senior.
EDUCATION: Â
Earned a B.S. in secondary education from Nebraska in 2003.
PERSONAL DATA:
Born July 7, 1980 in Blue Spring, Mo., native. He and his wife Jamie have four children: Lilly (12), Jack (9), Valerie (8) and Beau (2).
BOWL EXPERIENCE:
AS A COACH: NC State - 2021 Holiday Bowl*, 2021 Gator Bowl; FAU: 2017 Boca Raton Bowl; Nebraska: 2014 Holiday Bowl, 2014 Gator Bowl, 2013 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Holiday Bowl, 2009 Holiday Bowl, 2009 Gator Bowl.
Coaching HIGHLIGHTS:
At NC State:
- Starting OT Ikem Ekwonu was a consensus first-team All-American in 2021. He was also a finallist for the Outland Tropy, and won the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Award. Ekwonu was also a first-team All-ACC selection.
- Ekwonu was the first offensive player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, as he was chosen sixth overall by his hometown Carolina Panthers.
- C Grant Gibson was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2021.
- NC State ranked fourth in the ACC having given up just 25 sacks, despite losing its starting LG midway through the season.
- In 2020, Ekwonu was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice and earned second-team AP All-ACC honors at guard and tackle.
- Ekwonu was a 2019 FWAA freshman All-American.
At FAU: Â
- Coached the offensive line and served as run game coordinator, inheriting a unit that had lost three starters from the previous season.
- 2018 line ranked 14th in the FBS in sacks allowed (1.17 per game).Â
- The Owls also led Conference USA and ranked 14th nationally in rushing with 241.8 yards per contest.
At UNLV:Â
- During his first season in Las Vegas, the Rebel line helped the team post a dramatic improvement in the run game, finishing 36th in the nation in ypg.
- In 2017 the Rebels finished 15th in the country in rushing and set the school record for fewest quarterback sacks allowed;Â
At Nebraska:Â
- Six of his former players at Nebraska were on NFL rosters at the start of the 2018 season: Alex Lewis (Ravens), Brent Qvale (Jets), Spencer Long (Jets), Jerimiah Sirles (Bills), Matt Slausen (Colts) and Zach Sterup (Dolphins).Â
- In 2014, his offensive line paved the way for I-back Ameer Abdullah to earn second team All-America honors after compiling 1,523 yards and 18 scores on the ground.Â
- In 2013, the Huskers ranked 19th nationally with an average of 215.7 rushing yards per game and Abdullah rushed for 1,690 yards, the highest total by a Husker since 1997.Â
- Line has also protected the passer well, allowing an average of only 1.3 sacks per game, a total that ranked 23rd nationally and boasted three all-conference performers.Â
- In 2014, was honored for exceptional work on the recruiting trail as Rivals.com tabbed him as one the nation’s top 25 recruiters.Â
- In 2012, Nebraska ranked eighth nationally with 253.4 rushing ypg.
- Coached guard Spencer Long from walk-on to All-American and coached three all-conference offensive linemen in 2012.
- In 2011, helped develop an offensive line that paved the way for a Husker rushing attack that ranked 15th nationally, averaging 217.2 ypg.Â
YEAR BY YEAR WITH JOHN GARRISON
| Year(s) | School | Position |
| 2005-07 | Blue Springs (Missouri) HS | Assistant Coach |
| 2008-10 | Nebraska | Intern |
| 2011-12 | Nebraska | Asst. Offensive Line/Tight Ends |
| 2013-14 | Nebraska | Offensive Line |
| 2015-17 | UNLV | Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line |
| 2018 | FAU | Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line |
| 2019-pres. | NC State | Offensive Line |
