Filed under: Alabama, Auburn, Recruiting, Prospects
Minutes after noon Wednesday, surrounded by his teammates and with a television camera unblinkingly staring at him, Cyrus Kouandjio told everyone at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md., and viewing on national television that he would play offensive tackle at Auburn University.Or would he?
After the bright TV lights went off at his slice of National Signing Day, Kouandjio apparently experienced some significant second thoughts and did not sign his national letter-of-intent to Auburn. Or to Alabama, where his brother Arie will be a redshirt freshman offensive lineman next year. Or even to New Mexico, a curious third school in the younger Kouandjio's recruiting final three.
"It was lot of thinking to get to this result," Kouandjio said during his news conference. "I talked to my brother a lot. He told me to go where your heart takes you to go. I love all the coaches at Alabama, but my heart told me to go to Auburn."
Instead, the 6-foot-7, 322-pound Kouandjio held the ultimate fate of all three schools' recruiting efforts in limbo by refusing to put pen to paper. For Auburn fans on message boards, the shock of feeling the nation's top offensive line recruit slipping out of their fingers was palpable. For Alabama fans fresh off reacting negatively to Kouandjio's commitment, the subsequent delay in signing offered fresh hope toward reuniting the brothers for a dominant offensive line force.
Auburn already had two major offensive line commitments come through as signees earlier in the day -- as OT Christian Westerman (6-5, 288, Chandler, Ariz., Hamilton HS) switched from Texas to the Tigers, and C Reese Dismukes (6-4, 287, Spanish Fort, Ala., HS) was an early commitment to Auburn. Officially adding Kouandjio would have vaulted Gene Chizik and the Tigers close to a coveted No. 1 overall recruiting ranking.
From Alabama's perspective, Kouandjio's waffling means the Crimson Tide now have two post-NSD storylines to follow. The other one, of course, revolves around consensus No. 1 athlete DE Jadeveon Clowney (6-6, 247, Rock Hill, S.C., South Pointe HS), who is likely to decide between Alabama and South Carolina on Feb. 14 -- his 18th birthday.
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