Stephane Nembot

Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Position:
Defensive End
Height:
6-8
Weight:
280
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Van Nuys, Calif.
High School:
Montclair Prep

AT COLORADO: Career Notes—Over the course of his sophomore through senior seasons (37 games, all starts), he was in for 2,777 out of a possible 2,836 snaps, or 97.9 percent of the time. He ended his career with the second longest starting streak on the team at 37 games, with his 42 career starts also tied for second.

2015 (Sr.)—He started all 13 games at offensive tackle, the first five at his regular spot on the right side, but due to injuries, shifted to the left side where he started the last eight. He earned second-team All-Colorado honors from the state’s chapter of the NFF, he was invited to and played in the East-West Shrine Game, and the CU coaches presented him with the team’s Offensive Trench Award as the team’s top offensive lineman. He played a team-high 966 snaps (by any player, offense or defense), earning a plus-play percentage of 52.3 and an overall grade of 80.0 percent (he graded to 80 percent or higher in eight games, with a high of 85.2 against Colorado State). He was second on the team with 25 knockdown blocks, and added six direct touchdown blocks and 13 perfect protection plays on TD passes. He allowed four-and-a-half sacks and was called for five penalties. He played every snap in nine games, including a team-record with two other players when he was in for all 115 at UCLA (including one 2-point conversion play). Athlon Sports selected him on its second-team All-Pac-12 preseason squad, and the CU coaches selected him as one of two recipients of the Eddie Crowder Award, presented to those players who displayed the most outstanding leadership in the spring.

2014 (Jr.)— He started all 12 games at right offensive tackle for the second straight season, playing 988 snaps, which tied for the team high; he was for all but eight plays over the course of the entire season. He had 517 plus plays for the year, giving him a 52.3-plus play percentage, and with another 289 graded at even, his grade for the year was 81.6 percent. He was second among the linemen with 47 knockdown blocks, tied for team-high with 29 perfect plays on touchdown passes and had one direct one touchdown block. He allowed 14 pressures but just three quarterback sacks. His best game grade for plus-percentage came against Oregon State (68.0), when he also had his best overall game (92.2 percent); his next best overall grade was at Massachusetts (85.4). The coaches presented him with the team’s Offensive Trench Award following the season, and also selected him as the recipient of the Joe Romig Award for the spring, presented to the most improved offensive lineman.

2013 (Soph.)—He started all 12 games at right offensive tackle, playing the second-most snaps on offense both overall and by the linemen (823). He had 484 plus plays on the year, earning a 58.8 plus-play percentage; his actual game and season grades were higher as they took neutral results into the equation. He led the team in knockdown blocks with 45 (combined pancakes, blown the opponent off the line and/or driving finishes), and tied for the team lead in touchdown blocks with six. Improved as the season progressed, as he was still learning the nuances of the position; he was called for three penalties, allowed seven-and-half sacks and 20 pressures. He also played an additional 29 snaps on the field goal/PAT unit on special teams. He won the Iron Buffalo Award for the offensive linemen for spring conditioning in the weight room.

2012 (Fr.-RS)—He played in all 12 games, 10 on offense at right tackle, starting seven, and appeared in two others on the FG/PAT unit on special teams. He was in for 422 snaps from scrimmage, and had 30 will-breaker blocks (highest percent of those to snaps on the team), along with five touchdown blocks. He graded out to 74.6 percent for the season, and played his best games in the second half of the season, first at Arizona, where he graded out to 83.9 percent (52 plus plays out of 62), with five “will-breaker” blocks and two touchdown blocks. The next week against Washington, he had a career-best seven will-breaker efforts. Due to injuries, he played more as a redshirt frosh than anticipated due to injuries, and was thrown into the fire against several top defenders, thus did allow five-and-a-half quarterback sacks and five pressures, still not bad numbers. He bulked up some 25 pounds (all muscle) since arriving as a freshman and his second year on campus.

2011 (Fr.)—Redshirted; he was projected as a defensive end and practiced there early in camp, but then was moved to offense where he started learning the offensive tackle position the remainder of the year.

HIGH SCHOOL—As a senior, he was an All-Region selection by PrepStar and All-Far West team member by SuperPrep, the latter publication’s No. 74 player in the region, the No. 69 player from California and No. 11 defensive end in the region. ESPN ranked him as the No. 45 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 49 player from California (the sixth DT in the state). Rivals.com ranked him the No. 51 defensive end nationally, No. 80 in California (the eighth strong side DE statewide), while Scout.com ranked him the No. 70 offensive tackle in the nation, No. 97 player from California (fifth OT in the Golden State). The Alpha League most valuable lineman, he also earned first-team mention. Rivals.com tabbed him, “the most intriguing prospect in the west.” He earned second-team All-Alpha League as a junior, his first year playing football. As a senior, he totaled 61 tackles (44 solo) with 11 quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles, two recoveries and one pass break-up. On special teams, he kicked off 35 times with three touchbacks and also returned a kickoff 10 yards. His junior season he had 36 tackles (27 solo) with one fumble recovery while he kicked off twice. Top career games included a 30-6 win over St. Anthony when he had seven tackles and four sacks, and in a 42-8 loss to Paradete, he had 12 tackles and three sacks. He also lettered in basketball (Alpha League’s best defender as a junior), soccer (defender) and volleyball (front row/middle blocker).

ACADEMICS—He majored in both International Affairs and Ethnic Studies, with a minor in Business, earning his degree in December 2015. He earned second-team Pac-12 All-Academic Team honors both as a sophomore and a redshirt freshman (honorable mention as a junior and senior); he also garnered honorable mention Academic All-Colorado honors from the state’s chapter of the National Football Foundation as a junior and senior. He was a member of his high school’s Honor Roll all eight semesters as a prep, maintaining better than a 3.5 grade point average.

PERSONAL—He was born December 7, 1991, in Douala, Cameroon. His hobbies include watching movies, television sitcoms and football and basketball games, art, kickboxing and martial arts (Tai Chi). He speaks three different languages (English, French and Spanish) and 11 different African dialects: Bafoussam (his mother’s tribe), Bangoua (his father’s tribe), Douala (language native to where he was born, the capital of Cameroon), Bafang, Bagante, Bana, Bandgoun, Bassa, Bayangam, Ewondo and Tchang. He participated in a program through Montclair Prep to help feed the homeless up to twice a week and says it is his dream to come to the United States and make enough money to go back to Africa and help the needy. (Name is pronounced steff-on name-bot.)