Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie is among the most fascinating prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Amegadjie has dreamlike measurables for the next level, clocking in at 6-foot-5 and 323 pounds with 36-inch arms and an 85.5-inch wingspan. Amegadjie also possesses the work ethic, football IQ, and athletic traits necessary to develop into an All-Pro tackle at the next level.
Amegadjie recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about transforming his body during the 2020 COVID-19 season, balancing school and football at Yale, the sacrifices made by his parents to get him here, which NFL teams are showing interest in his services, and more.
JM: Your parents have a fascinating story. Your father grew up in West Africa in Togo and lived in France before moving to the USA. Your mother was born in Cameroon and lived in Canada before settling in America. What have their journey and sacrifices taught you about hard work?
Kiran Amegadjie: It taught me that life puts a lot of obstacles in your way. No matter what walk of life you come from, you’ll have to overcome adversity at some point in your life. How determined you are to change your life makes the difference.
My parents were determined to change their outlook. They taught me that you have to work hard in order to achieve the things you want to achieve. Perseverance is a huge thing on your journey to success.
My parents came to America with nothing. They made a beautiful life for me, my sister, and my little brother. I honestly couldn’t be more thankful for the sacrifices they made. They taught me the value of hard work and determination.
JM: What an incredible influence they’ve been on your life. You have a background as a basketball player. How did that help you become a better football player?
Kiran Amegadjie: The biggest thing is my feet. Basketball had a tremendous influence on me developing quick feet to play the offensive tackle position. I have basketball feet, quick, nimble feet. I’m light on my feet.
The competition of playing basketball, the explosiveness and athleticism required played a huge role in my physical development. The jumping, running with a need to get up and down the floor, a lot of those traits translate to the gridiron as well. You have to get out in space in basketball.
You have to explode through the backside. All of that translates to the football field in my opinion.
JM: Your 2020 season, which was supposed to be a big development year for you, was canceled due to COVID-19. You used that year to become a smarter player and reshape your body in the weight room. How did that experience help you learn to make the most of a bad situation, one that you didn’t have control over?
Kiran Amegadjie: It was a blessing in disguise for me. A lot of players just want to get into the program and go full steam ahead. That’s not always realistic. Sometimes, you’re not ready for that.
Sometimes you need to take a step back and develop behind the scenes. Sometimes, you need that more than you realize. That’s when you can attack the next phase of your development.
Some players end up needing a year or two when they get to the next level to adapt to the pro game. I feel like I’m a quick learner. It didn’t take long for me to adjust to the college game, and I don’t think it’s going to take long for me to adjust at the pro level either.
That year off was a blessing in disguise for me. I got into the weight room and developed my body. I watched a lot of film and became a smarter, more technically savvy football player. I kept my head in the playbook to where when I did step on the field, I was ready for everything that came my way.
JM: It shows on tape. Having attended a prestigious Ivy League program like Yale, how did you learn to balance education with football?
Kiran Amegadjie: You don’t get extensions at Yale (laughs). You don’t get to miss classes or exams for football practices or meetings. School comes first. You are a true student-athlete at Yale.
There’s a lot of time management that goes into it. You need to learn how to get done what you need to get done. You have to handle your business in that classroom. That’s the best way to then handle your business on the field as well.
Everybody takes a different approach. It’s really about finding what works for you. You also need to learn to seek out the help you need when you need it.
JM: You really are a student-athlete at Yale. want to talk about your measurements. You clocked in at 6-foot-5 and 323 pounds with 36-inch arms and an 85.5-inch wingspan. The length is especially eye-opening. How do you use that length to your advantage?
Kiran Amegadjie: It’s everything. Length is at the forefront of my game. It’s the biggest advantage I have on the field, especially in pass protection. It’s really about getting my hands on my opponent and locking out.
If I get in a position where I get my hands on a guy, I know he can’t touch me. If he can’t touch me, he can’t shed the block. It’s really that simple. For me, I’d say length is my biggest weapon.
JM: Do you have a favorite pass set? Are you a vertical set guy?
Kiran Amegadjie: Honestly, no. I don’t have a favorite. My base set is an angle set. I don’t necessarily have a favorite. I love to switch it up in practice and try different things. When it comes to game time, I’ll typically lean on my base fundamentals. That’s the honest truth.
I love playing around and tinkering with my base set though. I love to try new things out. Football is a game at the end of the day. You have to play around with it and play the game within the game a little bit.
JM: I love that approach. What's your favorite play to run in the playbook?
Kiran Amegadjie: Definitely duo. Duo is my favorite play. It’s so physical. It’s a vertical, downhill running scheme. I love that approach. It’s extremely physical at the point of attack. It creates as many double teams as possible. It displaces defenders off the line of scrimmage.
It’s a tone-setter up front. We were so good at it at Yale that we ran it on 3rd-and-10 (laughs). We ran it a bunch on 3rd-and-10 this past season before I got injured. We picked up a bunch of first downs too. That was our bread-and-butter play.
JM: Running it on 3rd-and-10 is hilarious. Do you see yourself playing in a gap/power scheme, or are you a better fit for a zone-blocking system that gets you out in space?
Kiran Amegadjie: I honestly think I fit in both schemes. I have a lot of athleticism to get out in space. I can move and block defenders in space. I can climb to the second level. I love displacing defenders. A zone-based scheme is amazing for that.
I also think the biggest part of my game, especially in the run game, it’s my pop at the point of attack. I’m super strong, which also leans favorably towards that gap scheme. I love a physical scheme. It’s very much downhill as opposed to something zone-based. I fit both systems.
JM: You’re versatile that way. With the NFL Combine now in our rearview mirror, do you have any upcoming Top 30 visits?
Kiran Amegadjie: I have a few scheduled for April. I’ll be in Cleveland for a visit with the Browns. I’ll be back home in Chicago for a visit with the Bears. I’m also going to be in Washington, D.C.
I think I have a few more on the books, about three or four more visits that we’re still scheduling right now. I also had 10 formals at the NFL Combine. I met with every team at least informally.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. This has been an outstanding conversation. We've appreciated your time today. What kind of impact is Kiran Amegadjie going to make at the next level?
Kiran Amegadjie: When you draft Kiran Amegadjie, you’re getting a flat-out ball player at the end of the day. I’m a super-talented, tough, and physical player. I work extremely hard. I’m very dedicated and driven. I want to be the best player I can be at the end of the day.
I have the ability to be the best. I know what I’m going to be. In 10-15 years, people are going to look back on me as the best offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft. I know that for a fact not because of what I’ve done before, but because I know exactly what I’m going to do moving forward.
I know how badly I want this. I know how much work I’m going to put in. I want to be great. I’m a can't-miss prospect.
