Alabama’s Cyrus Kouandjio is definitely a first round talent; perhaps a top ten overall NFL Draft pick. He’ll join Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and C.J. Mosely as first round picks from Alabama. A.J. McCarron, nah no way.
Cyrus Kouandjio, from Hyattsville, Md., is the Crimson Tide’s junior left tackle and a veteran of 24 starts over the past two years for an Alabama offensive line that has been one of the best in the nation. He has a team-high 14 knockdown blocks while allowing just 1.5 sacks in 286 pass attempts in 2013.
Cyrus Kouandjio has blocked for 17 100-yard rushers over the past two seasons as a starter, including seven this year. He anchors an offensive line that ranks ninth nationally in fewest sacks allowed (.90 per game) while opening holes for one of the most-balanced offenses in the nation, averaging 207.5 yards on the ground, 238.2 yards in the air and 38.8 points per game.
He’s had a few hiccups along the way, and he struggled at the beginning,” ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. said of him. However, he still rates Kouandjio as 18th overall on the big board.
Cyrus Kouandjio anchors an offensive line that ranks ninth nationally at .89 sacks per game. Versus Texas A&M he recorded two knockdown blocks, did not allow a sack and graded out at 90 percent.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan