The Miami Herald had some good ink on defensive end Adewale Ojomo in Wednesday’s edition. Click here to check it out.
Outside the fact it was a solid article on the redshirt freshman budding defensive star, it should also serve as notice not to judge a book by it’s cover.
Dig back in this blog regarding some recruiting-related posts and read some of the comments left by fans. Seems a lot of folks are way too caught up in the hype regarding the rankings sites like Scout and Rivals give high school seniors.
While Ojomo is starting to terrorize offensive backfields this season and preps for his third career start in what looks to be a breakout year, two years ago the Hialeah High defensive end was an under the radar three-star prospect.
Ojomo chose Miami over NC State, but also had offers from Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Kentucky and West Virginia.
Not USC. Not Ohio State. Florida and Florida State didn’t want him. Texas and Alabama never came calling. Miami was Ojomo’s biggest fan and in turn, the hometown kid stuck with the hometown school and now potentially looks like the next great Canes defensive end.
Randy Shannon preaches about keeping local talent home and he’s also talked about not getting caught up with rankings.
Instead, Canes coaches are focusing on finding Miami-style kids and athletes who are a good fit for the program, instead of someone highly touted simply because a few websites say so. Shannon and staff are looking for diamond in the rough-types and kids with that intangible not measured by recruiting websites looking to make a buck and stir the pot.
For those caught up in the rankings, remember that Ed Reed wasn’t highly touted and chose Miami over Tulane. Santana Moss came to The U on a track scholarship and was thought to be too small. Same for Roscoe Parrish, regarding his size.
Take it back a few decades and remember that a guy like Russell Maryland wasn’t a big time recruit and contrast to some four and five-stars Miami reeled in earlier this decade. Kids who wanted to get on board after Miami was a national championship caliber program, instead of the type of kids who signed on to be part of the rebuilding and resurgence.
Kids like Ojomo are part of the rising, the same way guys like Moss and Reed were ten years ago.
It’s three-star players with five-star heart who are going to make Miami into “Miami” again.