Hailing from the long list of Canadians who made an indelible mark on the NFL, such as Eddie Murray, who recorded 352 field goals in 250 career games, Eli Ankou has been making his presence felt on and off the gridiron.
Canadians are a demanding crowd when it comes to their football players, and who could blame them? From the first Canadian Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Bronko Nagurski, to Austin Collie, who managed to accomplish 118 catches for 15 touchdowns in just 25 regular season games before the injuries took the best of him, Canadian players have some big shoes to fill, and Eli Ankou has been doing his fair share of the lifting.
The 6’3 defensive tackle Eli Ankou recorded his first NFL appearance in the Houston Texans’ uniform and has since bounced around in the league before settling with the Buffalo Bills for the 2023/2024 campaign.
Join us as we explore his impact on the game and his role in raising expectations for young Canadians filling the ranks of NFL teams.
From Ottawa to the NFL: Eli Ankou’s Tenacious Journey as a Defensive Tackle
Ankou was a A three-star recruit and the No. 27 strong-side defensive end in the country while playing for the Red Lion Christian Academy. He attended the University of California in Los Angeles and spent his college football years playing for the Bruins, but he didn’t really make a breakthrough before 2015 when he recorded 11 starts in 13 games.
The Houston Texans signed Ankou in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, but he couldn’t quite find his footing. He played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017, donning their uniform in 9 games during that season, then moved to the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons before signing with the Buffalo Bills.
He was recently elevated from the practice squad for the second consecutive NFL week after the team waived two players, sparking a huge interest in Pro Football Pickem Pools and potentially marking a new rise in Ankou’s career.
Eli Ankou: Every Child Matters
Eli Ankou has been lauded by Canadians for being the leading voice in bringing more awareness to the movement “Every Child Matters,” whose goal is to shed more light on the e genocide indigenous communities have suffered at the hands of the Canadian government, particularly the children that were forced to attend Residential Schools. He also co-founded Dream Catcher Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps end violence towards Native American women and backs the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.
Ankou’s Ready to Impact the Game
Some might say that Ankou’s involvement in different projects may have taken his mind off the game, but the odds for the number of tackles by the Bills are in the focus when Ankou is on the pitch. Many bookmakers, like Bet99, cover the team and the rest of the NFL extensively, but LegalBet Canada has a complete guide on Bet99 Canada if you want to learn more. In addition, you can check out 1Win for more options.
For now, it’s vital to note Ankou’s impact on the defensive end for the Bills. In Week 14 last year, the Bills met with the reigning champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he then managed to sack Tom Brady, showing his defensive prowess.
He is eager to play, and the Bills are likely to use his services this season, giving Canadians, especially Canadian bettors, a chance to bet on Ankou’s performances.
