Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1138762
halk up another win for Ja'Juan Seider. The Florida-born running backs coach has been on a hot streak ever since he was hired by Penn State early last year, and he enjoyed one of his bigger recruit- ing victories this past December when wide receiver John Dunmore signed with the Nittany Lions. Dunmore, a four-star prospect from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had grown up a Florida State fan. It was his dream school, he said. But Seider had known him long before he developed into one of the coun- try's more heavily recruited wide re- ceivers, pursuing him as a member of three di5erent college coaching sta5s. "He actually offered me my freshman year when he was at West Virginia, so he believed in me before everyone," Dun- more recalled. "When he moved to Florida then, that was when I really got to know him. We just bonded right away." Seider headed to University Park in Jan- uary 2018, and one of his 4rst calls was to Dunmore. "He hit me up as soon as he got to Penn State. It was like nothing changed," Dunmore said. "We were talk- ing every day. He wanted me to come visit as soon as I could, but it was hard to get up there. But when I took that o6cial visit, that's when it changed. That's when I knew that this was the best place for me." Dunmore did a bit of traveling himself as a high school player. He began his ca- reer at Chaminade-Madonna, then spent a year at Cardinal Gibbons, fol- lowed by a year at American Heritage in nearby Delray Beach. He then returned to Chaminade for his senior season. Everywhere he went, though, the 6- foot-1, 180-pound Dunmore was a standout player, amassing 2,363 yards of total offense in his high school career. Last year, he caught 53 passes for 853 yards and eight touchdowns, helping lead the Lions to a 12-2 record and a Class 3A state championship, their first since 2005. Chaminade coach Dameon Jones said Dunmore's greatest assets are his sure hands and penchant for precise routes. "Both stand out," Jones said. "He also just has that drive. He always wants to play in those big-time moments, those big games. He really thrives in those sit- uations, too. He made so many plays for us on the way to a state championship this year. He was a game-changer for us." Jones said Seider's rapport with Dun- more played a crucial role in the prospect's willingness to head north. Dunmore actually committed to the vet- eran assistant coach twice: 4rst in the spring of 2017 when he was on the sta5 at Florida, and then in July 2018 to Penn State a7er Seider landed with the Nittany Lions following a coaching purge in Gainesville. "John had a lot of opportunities, but you won't find many, or really any coaches who believed in John as much as Coach Seider," Jones said. "Also, what Penn State had to offer is perfect for John. It's a big-time program with a great offense and a great group of coaches. I think that's what made the difference." Last summer, Dunmore took o6cial visits to Michigan and Auburn in addition to Penn State. He committed to the Nit- tany Lions on Independence Day, and he stayed committed for the next 4ve months, although he did visit Miami in November just to make sure he was fully investigating all his options. "I've got some friends there and I know they like it there, so I just didn't want to have any re- grets," he said. "But I knew it was going to take a lot for me to switch up on Penn State." His objective now is to make an impact on a youthful Nittany Lion receiver corps. With a dearth of proven players returning, there may be a chance for an incoming receiver to get on the field early. Dunmore said he's looking to " bring that Florida energy" to his new team. "Where I come from, we play with that [energy]," he said. "We don't like losing. We do whatever it takes to win. I want to bring that to this team and be a big part of this team from the start. But also, I know I've got to be a team player and play my role." ■ CLICK HERE to see video of Dunmore in action. Dunmore looking to bring 'Florida energy' to PSU | C THE DUNMORE FILE STATS Totaled 53 receptions for 853 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior, leading Chaminade-Madonna to a 12-2 season and a Class 3A state title... Finished high school career with 2,363 yards of total o.ense HONORS Named a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, as well as the No. 14 wide receiver nationally and No. 14 prospect in Florida... Played in Under Armour All-America Game... Was a first-team USA Today All-USA Florida selection