INDIANAPOLIS — Yodny Cajuste is a confident football player and fairly certain he’s one of a kind.
“I’m probably the only Yodny in the world,” the former West Virginia offensive tackle said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine at the Indiana Convention Center.
His unique first name was something his mother, Marie, made up.
“I’m proud of it,” Cajuste said. “Every time somebody said, ‘What’s your name?’ and I told them they were surprised, like ‘Oh, that’s a nice name.’ Really didn’t get grief.”
Cajuste’s first name isn’t the only thing unique about him. After playing just one year of high school football, he played football at a Division I university and is now on the cusp of an NFL career.
“Honestly, it’s a blessing just to stand in front of you right now,” Cajuste said. “Being here and just being with the teams, meeting all these different guys, it’s just a great blessing. I grew up watching the combine, watching the NFL. Just to be a part of this is just a blessing I can’t even explain.”
He once dreamed of being the next Kobe Bryant and it wasn’t until the football coach at Miami Miramar High School asked for about the 20th time did Cajuste give football a try.
“Basketball was my first love,” Cajuste said. “I love football a whole lot. I can’t express how much I love football. This is my fifth year playing football, I grew to love it more and more each and every year. There’s no ceiling as to how much I love this game right now.
“I didn’t even want to play football. I loved watching it, but I didn’t want to play. I had to get forced to play football, but now I’m glad I did.”
He admits he’s still learning the intricacies of the game and is considered by scouts as a developmental player who is inconsistent with his ability to sustain blocks. To his credit, Cajuste knows he has plenty to work on, but believes his potential is sky-high.
“I need to work on everything, my whole game, my pass protection, run blocking, it doesn’t matter,” Cajuste said. “I feel like I’m not there as a player. I feel like my ceiling is really high and there’s room for improvement in all aspects of my game.”
Cajuste looks the part with 312 pounds packed onto a 6-foot-5 frame and 34-inch arms. One NFL scout said Cajuste is a powerful linear run blocker, but struggles against speed pass rushers because he doesn’t change direction well. Cajuste disagrees and said his background as a basketball player gives him excellent footwork.
“I feel like I’m a great pass protector,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got great feet.”
Injuries are a concern. Cajuste missed half of his redshirt-freshman season with a knee injury and had to sit out his entire sophomore year with another knee injury. He started 24 games over his final two seasons in Morgantown, but then a bum ankle prevented him from participating in last month’s Senior Bowl.
“I was real disappointed,” Cajuste said of the Senior Bowl. “I definitely wanted to go there and showcase my talents, show what I could do against the other top guys, but unfortunately, I wasn’t ready.”
Now fully healed, Cajuste will be on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday to run the 40-yard dash and participate in position drills.
“I just want to show (NFL scouts) I’m the best tackle here,” he said. “I can play football and I’m willing to lead. The best in this draft, really.”
“I’m definitely blessed with my talent. Just trying to work hard each and every day to be the guy I want to be one day.”
Story by Ron Clements
