Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2017 53 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY DAVID MCKINNEY There are thousands of high school football players all over the country who dream about the opportunities that Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has earned. A finite percentage of high school football players get full-ride schol- arships to play college football, and Owusu-Koramoah is one of them. But it wasn't just happenstance. The former Virginia commit has been working toward this goal for years, and whenever he feels like tak- ing a play off or skipping a rep, he thinks about all those people who would kill to be in his shoes — or his cleats. "Some people don't get that oppor- tunity, and I'm grateful to play this sport," Owusu-Koramoah said. "You have to take advantage of every play, and just think about how blessed you are to get to do what you're doing. "You can't take that for granted." Owusu-Koramoah added that he's constantly thinking about the amount of work he's put in, and he refuses to let it go to waste. "You revert back to the hard work in the summers," he said. "You kind of think, 'Ok, not everybody gets to play this game of football.' " Of course, he didn't do it alone. Owusu-Koramoah said he's had an army of elders in his corner for most of his life, and wouldn't have become the person or player he is today without them. His mother has been there. His brother has been there. All the coaches he's had throughout his career have been there for him. Pastors have ex- tended their duties far beyond Sunday sermons. All these people have invested in Owusu-Koramoah, and the future Notre Dame freshman said he couldn't be more thankful. "It all reverts back to being a bless- ing," Owusu-Koramoah said. "Most people don't have that many different people in their lives to allow them to get where they need to be. "God put those people in my life to help me out in different aspects." His circle of family and mentors has gotten him this far, an accomplishment to be sure. But Owusu-Koramoah knows this is only the beginning. While he's grateful and excited for the opportunities that lay ahead, he knows that soon the National Signing Day dust will settle and it will be time to get back to work. It would be normal for a teenager to want to extend the celebration, but Owusu-Koramoah is no normal teen- ager. He's ready to get started on sum- miting the next mountain. "The opportunity is amazing," Owusu-Koramoah said. "I'm so ex- cited and I can't wait to get to practice. I've got my offseason workout pro- gram already. "To get the opportunity to go to Notre Dame … I'm just so grateful." ✦ Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Takes Nothing For Granted JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH LINEBACKER 6-2 · 205 BETHEL H.S. HAMPTON, VA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 40 18 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 28 15 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 20 10 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 84 29 MEASURABLES • Recorded a 4.36-second time in the shuttle drill at Nike Football The Opening Regional in New Jersey on May 1, 2016. STATISTICS • Notched 71 total stops, 13 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and five forced fumbles dur- ing his senior season. Also scored six touchdowns. HONORS • Earned a spot on the 2016 Virginia High School League All-State first team. • Named to InsideNova.com's Virginia High School All-State first team as an all-purpose de- fender. • Selected as the first-team all-purpose defender on The Daily Press All-Star squad. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in Nike Football The Opening Re- gional in New Jersey on May 1, 2016. RECRUITMENT • Chose Notre Dame over Michigan State on National Signing Day. • Originally committed to Virginia. • Officially visited Notre Dame on Jan. 26, 2017. Also officially visited Michigan State. • Main recruiters at Notre Dame were defensive coordinator Mike Elko and linebackers coach Clark Lea. NOTABLE • Born Nov. 4, 1999. 2017 PROJECTION • Owusu-Koramoah is likely destined for a red- shirt season, but he could find an early role on special teams. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "Another one of those guys that really fit what we were looking for, espe- cially in Coach Elko's defense; that safety position that can come down close to the line of scrim- mage. Plays physical." Defensive coordinator Mike Elko: "He's a very athletic player. He does a ton of things on film; plays quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and safety. He's just a tremendous fit for our rover position. He's a kid who has range, athleticism and can really do a lot of good things on the football field. "He's just so dimensional in what he can do. He's a kid that loves ball and wants to play at the highest level. I think he has an attraction to Notre Dame because of what we can do on the field and what we can do from a winning standpoint." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Owusu- Koramoah fits in extremely well in Notre Dame's new 4-2-5 defense, with the rover position serving as his most likely destination. The Bethel standout did a little bit of everything for the Bruins. At just 17 years old — the age he will be until November of his freshman season — it is likely that Owusu- Koramoah will add significant weight and strength at Notre Dame, which will serve him well as he moves closer to the line of scrimmage. "He's a rangy athlete with smooth transition abil- ity, and he arrives at the football with force. Bethel asked him to cover down the field, blitz off the edge and to support perimeter runs. The ability to thrive in each of those areas is why he is an ideal fit for the rover position." Rivals national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell: "Very good frame that could add weight to be- come an outside linebacker. He's an above average tackler who is at his best against the run and drives through opponents." Owusu-Koramoah compiled 71 total stops, 13 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and five forced fumbles during his senior season at Hampton (Va.) Bethel. PHOTO COURTESY SAM MIZELLE/RECRUIT757.COM