He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide,[1] earning consensus All-American honors in 2013.

After his freshman year he was recruited by and transferred to DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland with his older brother Arie, where he played football for the Stags program.

[3] Kouandjio, a five-star and consensus top offensive line prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, ESPN, Scout.com, and SuperPrep, received offers from over sixty schools, including: Alabama, Auburn, New Mexico, USC, and Iowa.

[7] Three days later, on February 5, 2011, Kouandjio's brother Arie announced on his Twitter account that Cyrus would attend the University of Alabama.

[8][9] In 2011, Kouandjio contributed as a true freshman, playing in eight games until a knee injury in the second half against Tennessee ended his season.

On Alabama's third drive, Kouandjio pancake blocked Notre Dame defensive end Sheldon Day.

[18] He became the fifth Alabama offensive lineman selected in the first two rounds in six years, after Andre Smith, James Carpenter, Chance Warmack, and D. J. Fluker.

[30] Kouandjio's older brother, Arie, played offensive guard at Alabama and for the Washington Redskins.