Cyrus Kouandjio will make his decision very soon.
Photo by John Middlebrook
As a sophomore he transferred to DeMatha because "I had heard good things and I knew they were winning."
He spent much of the year learning how to read plays and schemes and was able to start a couple of games due to an injury to another player.
As a junior, Cyrus benefited from a summer loss of 40 pounds and was able to start at offensive tackle and defensive end against a power-packed schedule.
"I always had around three pancake (blocks per game)," he said. "There were some serious players out there."
The powerful tackle really came into his own this year, blocking at an outstanding 90 percent, allowing no sacks and having as many as six pancakes in a single game. He was equally effective blocking for a run or a pass.
Being ranked No. 3 in the country "feels good," he said. "I'm grateful for that. It hadn't crossed my mind (that he could attain such lofty status)."
Colleges from coast to coast are recruiting him, because he not only has great size, but also great athletic ability. He can run 40 yards less than 5 seconds, bench press 360 pounds and has a 2.5 GPA.
He also is a student of the game, studying current and past NFL linemen such as Walter Jones and Jake Long.
So who is going to win the Cyrus Kouandjio Sweepstakes?
He has visited Alabama and New Mexico, and he will visit Iowa on Saturday. He also lists Southern California and Auburn in his top five, but said he has not scheduled an official visit yet. He plans to sign on Feb. 2.
Arie, a 6-6, 313-pound lineman, is a freshman at Alabama.
Arie told MaxPreps, "He's a real good player – real athletic. His upside is real crazy. I told him to make his own choice. I really meant it."
Cyrus said he is looking for a college with "good people, a good environment. I want to be able to trust the coaching staff, that they'll give me tools to excel my football knowledge."
He added that he wants to major in psychology with an eye on becoming a therapist some day.
His brother's presence has to be a plus for Alabama, but don't discount New Mexico, because Cyrus admitted, "I wouldn't mind helping them (turn their program around)," though we believe he will join his brother at Alabama.
