 Kouandjio with theDenver Broncos in 2017 | |||||||
| No. 71, 79 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Offensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1993-07-21)July 21, 1993 (age 32) Douala, Cameroon | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 322 lb (146 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | DeMatha Catholic(Hyattsville, Maryland, U.S.) | ||||||
| College | Alabama (2011–2013) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2014: 2nd round, 44th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Cyrus Berenice Kouandjio (/ˈkwɑːndʒoʊ/KWAHN-joh) (born July 21, 1993) is aCameroonian former professional player ofAmerican football who was anoffensive tackle in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide,[1] earning consensusAll-American honors in 2013. He was selected by theBuffalo Bills in the second round of the2014 NFL draft.
Kouandjio initially attendedHigh Point High School inBeltsville, Maryland, where he playedfootball for the Eagles program. After his freshman year he was recruited by and transferred toDeMatha Catholic High School inHyattsville, Maryland with his older brotherArie, where he played football for the Stags program.[2] He competed in the 2011Under Armour All-America Game.[3] Kouandjio, a five-star and consensus topoffensive line prospect in the nation byRivals.com,ESPN,Scout.com, andSuperPrep, received offers from over sixty schools, including:Alabama,Auburn,New Mexico,USC, andIowa.[4] He was the fourth-ranked prospect in the recruiting class of 2011.[5]
OnNational Signing Day, Kouandjio announced onESPNU that he would attendAuburn University.[6] Later that day, it was reported that he had second thoughts about his choice and was still undecided.[7] Three days later, on February 5, 2011, Kouandjio's brother Arie announced on hisTwitter account that Cyrus would attend theUniversity of Alabama.[8][9]
In 2011, Kouandjio contributed as atrue freshman, playing in eight games until a knee injury in the second half againstTennessee ended his season.[10]
As a sophomore in 2012, Kouandjio started all 14 games at theleft tackle position. He had the fewest career starts on the Alabamaoffensive line in the 2012 season. In the2013 BCS National Championship Game againstNotre Dame, Alabama repeatedly ran to the left behind Kouandjio, contributing to 265 net yards rushing and 5.9 yards perrush. On Alabama's third drive, Kouandjio pancake blocked Notre Dame defensive endSheldon Day.[11][12] Kouandjio ended the 2012 season ranked as the top offensive tackle from the 2011 recruiting class.[13]
As a junior in 2013, Kouandjio was a first-teamAll-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection.[14] After the season, he decided to forego his senior season and entered the2014 NFL draft.[15]
As early as April 2013, Kouandjio was projected as one of the top selections in the 2014 NFL draft.[16]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft6+3⁄4 in (2.00 m) | 322 lb (146 kg) | 35+5⁄8 in (0.90 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 5.59 s | 1.93 s | 3.19 s | 4.84 s | 7.71 s | 27+1⁄2 in (0.70 m) | 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m) | 21 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[17] | ||||||||||||
Kouanjio was selected by theBuffalo Bills in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.[18] He became the fifth Alabama offensive lineman selected in the first two rounds in six years, afterAndre Smith,James Carpenter,Chance Warmack, andD. J. Fluker.
Kouandjio suffered an ankle injury near the start of the2016 season, causing him to miss multiple weeks.[19] He went on to play 12 games with five starts in 2016.
On January 26, 2017, Kouandijo suffered a hip injury after falling in his home and underwent surgery. He was expected to recover in time fortraining camp.[20] On May 24, 2017, Kouandijo was released by the Bills.[21]
On June 15, 2017, Kouandijo signed with theDetroit Lions.[22] He was released on August 29, 2017.[23]
On November 8, 2017 Kouandjio was signed by theDenver Broncos.[24] He played in three games, starting one at right tackle in 2017.
On September 1, 2018, Kouandjio was released by the Broncos.[25] He was re-signed on November 20, 2018.[26] He was released again on December 4, 2018.[27]
Kouandjio was selected by theNew York Guardians of theXFL in the 2nd round in phase two in the2020 XFL draft.[28]
On March 23, 2020, Kouandjio signed with theSaskatchewan Roughriders of theCanadian Football League.[29] He retired from football on July 20, 2021.[30]
Kouandjio's older brother,Arie, played offensive guard at Alabama and for theWashington Redskins.[31] Cyrus is married to his college girlfriend, Elizabeth Van Zandt who was also an athlete at the University of Alabama.[32] On April 20, 2017, Kouandjio was found undressed by deputies and firefighters inElma, New York. Kouandjio required medical attention for an undisclosed condition, and was granted first-aid. Kouandjio formally turned himself in, avoiding his arrest.[33][34]
