Cyrus Kouandjio: 10 Reasons He Could Spurn USC and Alabama on Signing Day
Cyrus Kouandjio, a 5-star offensive lineman from DeMatha (MD), is in the home stretch of his recruitment, and an announcement of his decision is due to come on National Signing Day next Wednesday. Kouandjio is down to Alabama, Iowa, New Mexico, Auburn and USC.
Some have speculated whether or not USC is still in the picture, since they did not receive a visit from Kouandjio. Meanwhile, Alabama fans have quietly assumed he was theirs from the jump, yet we've seen players bolt from presumed favorites.
Let's check out 10 reasons why Kouandjio could spurn both the Tide and Trojans next Wednesday.
10. Chance to Headline the Marquee
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The richness in talent at both USC and Alabama is no secret, as both rosters are full of top-notch football players.
Both the Crimson Tide and Trojans are set to haul in potential top-five recruiting classes, with 'Bama looking like the favorite to take the national No. 1 recruiting spot.
This means that if Kouandjio picks either USC or Alabama, he will be just another 5-star recruit coming to campus. While he will get his fanfare and attention for his status, he won't be the headliner in either class.
Auburn also fits this mold. At Iowa or New Mexico, Cyrus would be the main name on the marquee.
9. No Stay in Hotel California
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Koaundjio was scheduled to visit USC earlier this month, but had to cancel to take his SAT.
Many have speculated on if Kouandjio would like the city of Los Angeles; some say he would fit right in with his personality, but others believe he may not like the big city or west-coast lifestyle.
It's possible that maybe Kouandjio realized just how far Southern California is from DeMatha's campus, and this could make him turn elsewhere on National Signing Day.
8. Fall in Love with Locksley
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Mike Locksley has garnered a reputation as a tireless recruiter and coach who does things with much passion, determination and energy.
Locksley is doing all he can to turn New Mexico around and has made some noise in recruiting nationally. He has great connections and knows the east coast very well.
It also helps that Locksley is from the same region as Kouandjio and can relate very well to Cyrus' lifestyle, demeanor and childhood. This bond could sway the big offensive tackle to head to NM.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Mesmorized By the Tigers
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Auburn enjoyed a magical year, capped off with the BCS National title. The Tigers came out of nowhere at the start of the season to finish on top.
While much of that success is attributed to the play of Cam Newton and Nick Fairley, the 2010 Auburn football season was sensational, and Auburn found itself in a larger spotlight week after week as the season went on.
Surely Kouandjio took notice, and he may want to experience a similar season in Auburn during his college tenure.
6. Screws Too Tight
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Koaujdjio's personality is a bit laid-back and loose; the big offensive linemen loves to laugh, smile and have fun anytime he can.
Alabama's players love their coach to death, and they do have their share of fun, but Nick Saban can be a bit firm with his guys.
At USC, Lane Kiffin's first order of business was to restore discipline within the program, distinguishing the new coach from the departed Pete Carrol. When asked, players familiar with both coaches will often say that Kiffin is more serious and stoic than Carrol.
5. Priorities in Order
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Many recruited players are overwhelmed by how they are sought and how badly coaches say they are wanted.
While Kouandjio is a top-notch priority for all the schools he is considering, Alabama and USC are pursuing other 5-star prospects, and have committed to many. Auburn is in this category as well.
For Iowa and New Mexico, however, Kouandjio is the biggest recruit (literally and figuratively). Surely they both have made landing the athletic tackle their No. 1 priority.
4. Independence
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Koaundjio's brother, Arie, plays in Alabama, and Tide fans are assuming he's theirs to lose. Fans of the Trojans assume that USC is automatically in the thick of the race for any top-ranked recruit.
However, Koaundjio has stated many times how this decision is going to be made by him, for him.
If Cyrus wants show that he's really doing what's best for him and doesn't care what people think, then he would head to Auburn ('Bama's arch-nemesis), Iowa or even shock the world and pick New Mexico.
3. Kiehl Frazier
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Players like to follow quarterbacks who are great players and charismatic leaders. Kiehl Frazier is that type of QB, and he's committed to Auburn.
Frazier is a special talent who has been as big an Auburn recruiter as Gene Chizik. Frazier helped convince Brent Calloway to switch from Alabama to Auburn and has been in the ear of some of the best players in America, telling them about the Tigers.
Surely, Frazier has been speaking with Kouandjio, and the allure of helping protect Frazier has to appeal greatly to Cyrus.
2. Help Build New Mexico
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New Mexico is looked at as a program on the rise, and with Mike Locksley at the helm, the Lobos are certainly going in the right direction.
Locksley is no stranger at landing a top-tier recruit, as NM plucked 4-star DT Calvin Smith out of Florida last year. Smith had offers from Florida, Tennessee, Florida State and an array of other top programs, yet chose the Lobos.
Kouandjio could follow suit and decide he'd rather help build something special from the ground up than go be just another cog in a well-oiled machine.
1. Kirk Ferentz
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Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is a great college head coach, and is renowned as one of the very best offensive line coaches in football, period.
Iowa always has a very talented, tough and fundamentally sound offensive line. Ferentz has NFL experience as an OL coach, as he served under Bill Belichick when the two were with the Cleveland Browns.
The chance to play for Ferentz, who turned Robert Gallery into the second overall pick in the NFL Draft a few years back and has put out many quality NFL linemen, is a great draw for Kouandjio to spurn USC and Alabama.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
