Alabama Recruiting: Cyrus Kouandjio

Alabama Recruiting Update
Name: Cyrus Kouandjio.
School: DeMatha High School (Hyattsville, Md.)
Class: Senior
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-7
Weight: 300
College: Considering Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Miami, Fla., New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, USC, Virginia Tech and Virginia.

AP: “I’ll be glad when he graduates,” Milloy said. “He’s a very, very imposing player. His brother signed last year with Alabama. That’s about as good as it gets.”

Kouandjio, a native of Cameroon, is on The Associated Press South Region 25 list of top recruits. He is arguably the best prep player at his position and one of the most sought-after linemen in the country.

Kouandjio’s older brother, Arie, is a freshman at Alabama on scholarship. The Crimson Tide would like to have Cyrus, too, but there are other suitors in the mix, including Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Miami, Fla., New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, USC, Virginia Tech and Virginia.

“He has offers everywhere in the country,” DeMatha coach Bill McGregor said. “He can go anywhere he wants.”

McGregor has placed Kouandjio at right tackle, in part, because the team has a left-handed quarterback. But the coach said Kouandjio can play either side effectively.

“He’s big, athletic and can run,” McGregor said. “Whatever we want him to do, he does. There’s no maintenance.”

On or off the field, apparently.

“I ran into him at a combine and he came up to me and said hello. He was very polite, very respectful. A classy kid,” Milloy said.

Just the kind any college would like to have. Alabama got his big brother, but that doesn’t mean Cyrus will follow him there. (read the entire AP story below)