Who Is IK Enemkpali? The Lowdown on the LB Who 'Sucker-Punched' Geno Smith

Training-camp fisticuffs were taken to a whole new level Tuesday in—you guessed it—the New York Jets locker room. That's where starting quarterback Geno Smith had his jaw broken as a result of a sucker punch from a teammate.

The culprit, according to head coach Todd Bowles? A 2014 sixth-round pick named IK Enemkpali, whom the team announced it has already released.

"I apologize to the Jets organization, coaches, teammates and fans," Enemkpali said in a statement his agent sent to Bleacher Report. "Geno and I let our frustration get the best of us, but I should have just walked away from the situation. I deeply regret and apologize for my actions. It was never my intention to harm anyone. I appreciate the opportunity I had with the Jets."

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

For those unfamiliar with the second-year linebacker, here's the pertinent background information in 10 points:

1. Despite starting his high school football career as a backup fullback, Enemkpali had 14 sacks during his senior season at Pflugerville High School in Texas, where he teamed up with 247Sports 4-star recruit Alex Okafor. Louisiana Tech was the only NCAA program to offer Enemkpali a scholarship, according to Kane McGuire of the school's official athletics website.

2. He was originally projected as a linebacker in Louisiana Tech's 3-4 system but was moved to defensive end and has been an edge-rusher ever since.

3. After redshirting in 2009, he picked up 2.5 sacks in nine games as a freshman in 2010. But in 2011, he was arrested following an off-campus incident and was charged with disturbing the peace and battery of a police officer, per the Associated Press (via College Football Talk). The team immediately suspended him, and he was eventually sentenced to probation for simple battery, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

4. Enemkpali finished his college career with 32 sacks, including 11 as a senior in 2013, earning first-team All-Conference USA honors. He was also first-team All-Louisiana in both 2012 and 2013.

Seth Perlman/Associated Press

5. In McGuire's 2014 profile piece on Enemkpali, position coach Stan Eggen called Enemkpali "a great young man," adding that "he is very humble, respects the game and is a great team leader. He always wants to do what is best for the team. You have a lot of respect for players like that who want to continue to become an expert at their trade and are unselfish."

6. "Flashes shock and violence in his punch," NFL.com's Nolan Nawrocki wrote while projecting Enemkpali to be a seventh-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft or priority free agent. "Highly competitive, plays hard and motor runs hot." That spring, the Jets would select him 210th overall, just before the conclusion of the sixth round.

7. Now 24 years old, the outside linebacker was receiving strong reviews at his second NFL training camp. Connor Hughes of JetsInsider.com, who notes Enemkpali undergoes his own personal workout directly following every practice, offered up this stellar summary last week:

"

During one-on-one blocking, pass-rushing drills against offensive linemen early in camp, Enemkpali made a mockery of just about anyone who stepped in front of him. He used a battery of movies that included the spin, swim and bull rush to get past nearly everyone. He caught the eye of his teammates, and brought cheers from the crowd in attendance. Even Jets coach Todd Bowles took notice.

"He's strong and he's got a good pass rush," Bowles said. "He's still learning the new scheme as far as when to drop and when not to drop, and certain things like that. But we know he can rush the passer."

"

8. He played in six games as a rookie, recording no sacks and two passes defensed. But he had a strip-sack in his first preseason game (see it here), which clinched a victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Against the Cincinnati Bengals the next week, Enemkpali had another strip-sack and a blocked punt, resulting in a safety. He didn't play in the final two 2014 preseason games and played only 40 snaps during his rookie season.

Al Pereira/Getty Images

9. Enemkpali runs a community camp in his hometown of Pflugerville, which Geno Smith was supposed to attend last month, according to Joe Harrington of the Austin American-Statesman.

However, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, this camp may have played a role in the episode that took place Tuesday:

"

At the heart of the dispute between former Jets LB IK Enemkpali and quarterback Geno Smith is $600 that Enemkpali believed Smith owed him, per league sources. Enemkpali purchased a plane ticket for Smith to attend his July 11 football camp at Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville, Texas. However, days before the camp, a person close to Smith was killed in a motorcycle accident in Miami and Smith did not attend Enemkpali's camp, per sources. After Smith did not attend, Enemkpali demanded that the Jets quarterback refund him the $600 he allegedly used to purchase a plane ticket. Smith told Enemkpali he would reimburse him the money, but he did not. Enkempali confronted Smith today about the money and the confrontation ended in a punch and broken jaw.

"

10. His sister, Nneka, was selected 26th overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2015 WNBA draft. Nneka was an All-Big 12 forward at the University of Texas. Their parents, Chinedu and Justina, were both born and raised in Nigeria, but IK (his full name is Ikemefuna Chinedum Enemkpali), Nneka and their siblings, Chinelo and Osi, were born in Austin, Texas.

In his ancestral native language of Igbo, his first name translates to "Let my struggles not be in vain."

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon