Eli Ankou

Eli Ankou's Biography

Eli Ankou, born on June 8, 1994, is a Canadian professional football player renowned for his exceptional defense tackle skills. As of now, he plays for the Buffalo Bills, a franchise of the prestigious National Football League (NFL). His passion for football took root in his high school years and bloomed during his college career at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played for the UCLA Bruins. Such is the exciting life of this dedicated sportsman whose journey to the NFL is as thrilling as it sounds.

Ankou grew up in Canada, where he began his football journey. Right from St. Peter Catholic High School Knights in Orleans, Ontario, to the Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Delaware, where he played his senior season, Eli displayed remarkable talent and potential. His strength was noticeable on the field, playing as a strong side defensive end. His prowess did not go unnoticed as he landed a football scholarship at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles.

Ankou’s time at UCLA marked a significant period in his football career. Unfortunately, as a true freshman, he didn’t appear in any games. Then, as a sophomore, he missed most of the season due to an injury. Despite his challenging start, Eli did not allow those setbacks to deter his ambition. He appeared in three games as a backup, making one remarkable tackle.

Transitioning to his junior year, Eli’s resilience started to bear fruit. He featured in all 13 games as a back-up, posting an impressive five tackles, one of which was for a loss. Things took an exciting turn during his senior year when he became a starter. This opportunity came after Eddie Vanderdoes sustained a right knee injury that saw him miss the rest of the season. Eli appeared in 13 games, making 11 starts, and registered an impressive 47 tackles, which ranked him ninth on the team. His performance continued to improve, indicating a promising future.

Ankou’s journey in the professional realm began in 2017 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans after the NFL draft. He experienced setbacks when he was waived by the Texans in September 2017 but was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars in no time. In 2017, he appeared in nine games as a backup, posting 15 tackles. The following year, he appeared in two games and recorded four tackles.

In 2019, Ankou was signed by the Cleveland Browns from the Jaguars’ practice squad. He appeared in nine games, with two starts, and managed seven tackles. Unfortunately, he was waived by the Browns in September 2020. His journey continued as he was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts. However, he was declared inactive during the first five weeks of the season and was later waived.

The Houston Texans claimed Ankou off waivers in October 2020 and placed him on the exempt/commissioner permission list. Later that same year, the Dallas Cowboys traded for Ankou to bolster their struggling defensive line. He appeared in seven games as a backup, tallying five tackles, and one quarterback pressure. Unfortunately, he wasn’t re-signed after the season.

Ankou’s journey took him to the Atlanta Falcons in May 2021. He was waived in June, but soon found a new home with the Buffalo Bills. His list of affiliations grew as he had stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Tennessee Titans. As of November 16, 2021, he was signed to the Bills’ practice squad.

Beyond football, Ankou’s heritage can be traced to the Ojibwe of the Dokis First Nation through his mother Nicole Bellefeuille, while his father Adolphe hails from the West African nation of Togo. Since 2013, he has been in a relationship with American racing cyclist Shayna Powless, who he met at UCLA. As of 2021, the couple was engaged.

Given his forbearance, it was unsurprising to see Anoku return to the Buffalo Bills in 2022. He signed a reserve/future contract reaffirming his commitment to the team on January 23, 2023. After being waived later in the year, he returned to the practice squad indicating an unbroken connection between him and the Buffalo Bills.

However, in a turn of events, Ankou was signed by the Falcons off the Bills practice squad on October 4, 2023. The relationship, however, was short-lived as he was released later that October. Once again, Eli found himself back at the Bills practice squad. On January 23, 2024, Ankou signed a reserve/future contract. Despite being released as part of final roster cuts in August 2024, Eli was later added back to the practice squad.

Eli Ankou’s professional journey has been characterized by various highs and lows, but his determination and resilience have remained relentless. Like any passionate sportsman, Anoku’s story is a testament to the age-old saying, ‘never say never.’ With his tenacity and commitment, one can only anticipate more electrifying performances from this Canadian football star.