Eli Ankou (Ojibwe): Hard Work And Perseverance Continues To The Cleveland Browns

By Dan Ninham (Oneida)

The NFL journey of Eli Ankou started in Canada and continued to the state of Ohio.  He has been a Cleveland Browns starter the past few games and is working every day to keep starting. 

Eli Ankou is a 25 yr. old, 6’3″, 325 lb., defensive tackle for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. He was a full-ride scholarship football player for UCLA. Eli has been on an NFL roster for the past three years. He was honored with a hardest-worker award with the Jacksonville Jaguar’s in the 2019 off-season.

“I’m a member of the Ojibwe tribe in Ontario, and I’m from Ottawa, Canada,” said Eli. “My mom is a part of the Ojibwe tribe and my dad is from Togo, Africa. I have family on my mom’s side that currently lives on the Dokis Bay Reservation. Both of my parents currently live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.”

Eli played three years of high school football in Canada. He played his senior season at Red Lion Christian Academy in Delaware.

“I have a strong belief in giving back to the community, whether it be my own hometown or tribal reservations,” said Eli. “As an athlete, I know there is endless opportunity for me to serve as a strong positive influence on the younger generations. That is why I created the Dreamcatcher Foundation, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering youth through sports, with a focus on football. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to put on my very first annual Dreamcatcher Camp in Ottawa where kids ages 8-18 could come out and learn/practice football skills free of charge. I am planning on hosting another camp next year and will hopefully even be able to host an event on one of the local reservations.”

“My coach from back home, Victor Tedondo, has pushed me to reach limits I never thought I could,” said Eli. “He has also been essential to my growth as a person. My parents also instilled in me from a young age the value of hard work and perseverance. Without these people I wouldn’t be the person or athlete I am today.”

Victor Tedondo, Owner of Gridiron Academy said: “I’ve known Eli since he was 14 years old. His work ethic, passion and competitiveness are what separate him from the rest. As a leader, he set the standard in the classroom, the weight room and on the field for the rest of our guys. He was the trailblazer for our program, the first to get a D1 offer and also the first to play in the NFL.  He made the defensive line position popular in our region. Since 2011, because of his influence, leadership and success, we have being able to place 20+ athletes at Division 1 schools on full scholarships. Recently, he founded a free football camp, Dreamchaser Camp, to inspire both underprivileged and aboriginal youth in Ottawa, Canada.  His competitive nature makes him really special also. He played OLB for our 7v7 team back in 2011 at 6’3 and 250lbs.  Overall, he just a great kid. He has wonderful parents who taught him the values of hard work. I’m really optimistic about his future both on and off the field.”

Ankou signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and was waived. He was then claimed by the Jacksonville Jaguars and played nine games his rookie season and two in 2018. He had 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks with the Jaguars. The Cleveland Browns signed him off the Jaguars practice squad this past October. He started his first career game vs. the Miami Dolphins and has started since that time. It’s a game-to-game decision to start.

Past experiences may help people handle different situations in positive ways. “Back when I was about 13 years old I did a survival camp through the Canadian Air Cadets,” said Eli. “This was in northern Quebec in the summer. The summer nights in the northern forest are not what people may think they are. It gets cold.”

“The purpose of the experience was to get campers out of their comfort zone. It was for three days and two nights. We were given a fishing line, one hook, a magnifying glass and a candle. We were given one match. If it didn’t work you found out how to make a fire,” added Eli.

“There were 15-20 campers in a wide area about a quarter mile from the instructors. 

I made a dwelling,” said Eli. “A lean-to. I dug roots to make rope, branches for the walls, pine boughs for shingles, and a wood wall to shield the fire toward the shelter. It was a primal as it gets. My main focus was to stay warm, fed and hydrated. I was looking for a squirrel but didn’t see one.”

“You had to figure things out. By being in this situation I had to come through it. Being uncomfortable I needed to survive,” added Eli.

“This is something I’ll always remember by going through this,” said Eli. “Whenever I was uncomfortable in football practice or games I always appreciated being in that situation because I coped. I figured things out.”

Two professional athletes have been living together for over six years. One is an NFL football player and the other is professional cyclist Shayna Powless (Oneida). They met at UCLA and have been together since. “Having been together for a while, I’ve seen first-hand the type of leadership Eli demonstrates both on and off the field. Whether it’s with his fellow teammates or with the youth through coaching, Eli always serves as a positive influence and inspiration to those around him. This, along with his determination and drive are a few of the things that inspire me to be a better athlete and person.”

Photo Credit: Eli Ankou