Eli Ankou Bio
Eli Ankou (born June 8, 1994) is a Canadian professional football defensive tackle who has spent time with multiple National Football League franchises. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at around 330 pounds, he has built a career as an interior defensive lineman since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins before launching a journeyman professional career across several NFL teams.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Ankou grew up in Canada and developed his game in the Ontario high school ranks before finishing his prep career in the United States. He is of Ojibwe heritage through his mother Nicole Bellefeuille, who is a member of the Dokis First Nation, while his father Adolphe is originally from Togo in West Africa.
Early Life and Background
Eli Ankou was born on June 8, 1994, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and raised in the surrounding region. He attended St. Peter Catholic High School in Orleans, Ontario, where he suited up for the Knights and began attracting attention as a defensive prospect. To expand his recruiting profile and compete against top-tier competition, he transferred for his senior season to Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Delaware.
At Red Lion Christian Academy, Ankou lined up primarily as a strong side defensive end, showcasing the size and power that would later define his pro career. His performance on the American high school circuit helped him earn a football scholarship from the University of California, Los Angeles, setting the stage for his move into the NCAA ranks.
Family ties have remained an important part of Ankou’s identity. He is an Ojibwe member of the Dokis First Nation through his mother Nicole Bellefeuille, and his father Adolphe is originally from Togo in West Africa. That blended Canadian and West African heritage has shaped his upbringing and grounded him through a nomadic early professional career.
Path to Professional Football
Ankou joined the UCLA Bruins as a college defensive lineman and worked his way up the depth chart over four seasons. As a true freshman he did not appear in any games, and his sophomore year was largely cut short by injury, when he managed three appearances and one tackle as a backup.
His role expanded as a junior, when he played in all 13 games as a backup and posted five tackles, including one for loss. As a senior, Ankou became a starter after teammate Eddie Vanderdoes was lost for the season with a right knee injury, and he finished the year with 13 games played and 11 starts, recording 47 tackles and five tackles for loss.
Across his UCLA career, Ankou appeared in 38 games with 19 starts, amassing 91 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three passes defended, and one fumble recovery. His reliability in the trenches at the Pac-12 level prepared him for an NFL opportunity, even as he went unselected in the 2017 NFL draft.
Eli Ankou Career
Early Career (2017)
Eli Ankou signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2017, beginning his professional career. The Texans waived him on September 2, 2017, but he was quickly claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars the next day, giving him an immediate path to game action.
With the Jaguars, Ankou appeared in nine games as a rookie backup in 2017, posting 15 tackles including one for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback pressures while contributing to a Jacksonville defense that was emerging as one of the league’s most physical units.
Jacksonville Jaguars Tenure (2017-2019)
Ankou remained with the Jacksonville Jaguars into 2018, when he appeared in two games as a backup and recorded four tackles. His limited role reflected the depth chart in front of him, but he continued to develop his technique and conditioning within the Jaguars’ defensive system.
On September 1, 2019, the Jaguars waived Ankou and re-signed him to the practice squad two days later. That October, the Cleveland Browns signed him off Jacksonville’s practice squad, transitioning him to an AFC North roster and giving him a fresh opportunity.
Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts (2019-2020)
With the Cleveland Browns, Ankou appeared in nine games with two starts in 2019, finishing with seven tackles including one for loss. The Browns waived him on September 6, 2020, after which he was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts on September 7, 2020.
Ankou was declared inactive during his first five weeks with the Colts and was waived on October 17, 2020. His brief stints in Indianapolis and a return to the Houston Texans practice pipeline that fall illustrated how quickly roster movement defines life on the NFL fringe.
Dallas Cowboys (2020)
On November 2, 2020, Ankou was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. The Cowboys acquired him to add depth after releasing defensive tackle Dontari Poe and to help a run defense that was struggling at the time.
Ankou appeared in seven games as a backup in Dallas, tallying five tackles and one quarterback pressure before becoming a free agent after the season. Although his time in Dallas was short, it represented one of his more visible stints on a contender during the 2020 campaign.
Atlanta Falcons and Bills Journeys (2021-2024)
Ankou signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 17, 2021, was waived in mid-June, and returned to the Falcons again in August 2021. He was waived once more before signing with the Buffalo Bills on June 22, 2021, where he was waived during training camp in August. He also spent time on practice squads with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans in October 2021 before rejoining the Bills’ practice squad in mid-November.
In his second stint with Buffalo, Ankou played in six games, recording 10 tackles and one sack, and signed a futures contract with the team in February 2022. After brief movements between the Bills’ active roster and practice squad across 2022 and 2023, he returned to the Atlanta Falcons in October 2023 before being released later that month. He rejoined the Bills’ practice squad on October 25, 2023, signed a reserve/future contract in January 2024, and remained with Buffalo through training camp cuts in August 2024, with additional practice squad moves later in the year.
Notable Events and Milestones
One defining milestone of Ankou’s career came as a senior at UCLA, when he was elevated to a starting role after Eddie Vanderdoes suffered a season-ending knee injury and responded with 47 tackles and five tackles for loss. His 2017 debut season with the Jaguars, in which he posted 1.5 sacks as a backup, also marked his most productive statistical stretch to that point. The 2020 trade to the Dallas Cowboys for a future draft pick underscored how multiple organizations valued his run-defense depth during a single season.
Eli Ankou Personal Life
Family Background and Heritage
Ankou’s family background reflects both Indigenous Canadian and West African roots. Through his mother Nicole Bellefeuille, he is Ojibwe of the Dokis First Nation, while his father Adolphe is originally from Togo in West Africa. That dual heritage has been a meaningful part of his identity as he has moved between Canadian upbringing and American football opportunities.
Personal Life
Ankou has been in a relationship with American racing cyclist Shayna Powless since 2013, after the two met at UCLA, and as of 2021 the couple were engaged. Their long-term partnership, which began during his college years, has continued alongside his nomadic professional football journey.
2025 Season Outlook
As of the most recent verified updates, Eli Ankou’s last listed team was the Buffalo Bills, who released him and re-signed him to the practice squad multiple times during the 2024 calendar year. With his contract status after the 2024 season not clearly verified, any 2025 outlook depends on whether he signs with a new organization or returns to a familiar franchise.
Given his track record of moving between practice squads and active rosters across the NFL, Ankou is well positioned to latch on with a team seeking veteran defensive tackle depth heading into the 2025 league year. His experience in 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, including stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills, makes him a flexible depth option for clubs finalizing their interior defensive line groups.
Should he secure a roster spot for 2025, Ankou’s role would likely remain focused on run defense and rotational pass-rush support rather than a starting position. His ability to contribute on special teams and within heavy packages has been a hallmark of his career and would likely shape his next opportunity.