'16 CA DE Oluwole Betiku (USC Verbal)

[NDPhilly]

He is officially visiting w/ teammate Brandon Burton who has us basically in his top 2 w/ us and fsu...VERY GOOD NEWS-loy

Oh God that is so huge. DE and Safety are probably our biggest weaknesses.

 

[jerboski]

He is officially visiting w/ teammate Brandon Burton who has us basically in his top 2 w/ us and fsu...VERY GOOD NEWS-loy

Thought UCLA and ND were the top two for Burton, didn't know FSU was the other challenger... I like our chances better now

 

[ShawneeIrish]

When is he visiting?

 

[Big23Head]

When is he visiting?

Burton is supposed to visit for the USC game, assuming that sticks with betiku too then USC

 

[PANDFAN]

Thought UCLA and ND were the top two for Burton, didn't know FSU was the other challenger... I like our chances better now

you might be right...FSU is def in it though for him

 

[Cackalacky]

Good stuff.

 

[Cackalacky]

Is there any reason given why he would reach out?

 

[ShawneeIrish]

Burton is supposed to visit for the USC game, assuming that sticks with betiku too then USC

Thanks

 

[PANDFAN]

HE reached out to ND after committing to ucla--247

 

[GrangerIrish24]

HE reached out to ND after committing to ucla--247

so you're saying there's a chance

 

[Irish#1]

so you're saying there's a chance

 

[Big23Head]

Biggins spoke with him this weekend. Betiku said he will take all visits. Biggins believes the visits are to enjoy the process except ND. If he could flip, it's ND.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Biggins spoke with him this weekend. Betiku said he will take all visits. Biggins believes the visits are to enjoy the process except ND. If he could flip, it's ND.

If we play like we did yesterday when he visits, I like our chances. He's coming for the U$C game correct?

 

[ThePiombino]

I'm not saying EV tearing an ACL should be celebrated, but I am suggesting that maybe that + a flip here could just be the universe correcting itself.

Go ahead and flame away!

 

[Big23Head]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gardena (Calif) Serra DE Oluwole Betiku goes in-depth on his weekend visit to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FloridaState?src=hash">#FloridaState</a> <a href="http://t.co/CLyXhIcaKO">http://t.co/CLyXhIcaKO</a> <a href="http://t.co/9bXixJ5VDg">pic.twitter.com/9bXixJ5VDg</a></p>— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins/status/653771190620696576">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gardena (Calif.) Serra defensive end Oluwole Betiku committed to UCLA back in August but planned to take his official visits and took his first one this past weekend to Florida State.

Cavalier defensive end Oluwole Betiku is the top player in the state and 5-star prospect by Scout. He shows tremendous upside and has the potential to emerge as an elite pass rusher at the next level.

Betiku was a huge early commitment to UCLA but Bruin fans are going to have to hold their breath on this one as it will likely go down to the wire. The talented athlete checked out Florida State over the weekend and loved his time in Tallahassee.

"I had a great trip, it was even better than I expected," Betiku said. "The highlight of the visit for me had to be the game day atmosphere. The fan support is incredible and I loved all the chants and watching them do the tomahawk chop.

"I spent a lot of time watching the defense and especially the defensive line. They rotate a lot of players in and even the freshman get a lot of playing time. They get up the field and are very explosive off the edge and I think I would fit in really well in that kind of system."

Noles DL coach Brad Lawing made a big impression on Betiku as well.

"He's a great coach and has coached several players who were drafted in the 1st round," Betiku said. "He was at South Carolina with Jadeveon Clowney and was at Florida and coached Dante Fowler so his track record is really good. he told me he's a tough coach who really pushes his players.

"He said if I came there, there would be times I would hate him but his job is not to be liked, his job is to make me the best player I can be and help me get to the next level. He said the best players will play, no matter what year they are and I saw that first hand. How much you play depends on how fast you can learn the defense so it's all up to you. I like that challenge."

Betiku was hosted by Nole offensive lineman Abdul Bello, someone he knows very well.

"He's from Nigeria and we have been friends for a long time," Betiku said. "We talk all the time and he's the one who told me I have to come out and take a visit. He hurt his knee in the summer and has to redshirt but he said the coaches and everyone is still taking care of him and treating him like he's part of the team, like he's family.

"I really liked the environment there and everyone is so supportive of FSU football. The players are treated great and all you have to worry about is going to class and playing football.

"The players all stay in the same area and the apartments are so nice, they're like luxury apartments with big living rooms and bedrooms. It's a really a great school and I'm definitey considering them. They moved up my list for sure after this trip."

Next up for Betiku will be a visit to Texas A&M this coming weekend (Oct. 17) and Notre Dame will get a trip as well although he still needs to lock in the date.

"I'm talking to Notre Dame about the Wake Forest game in November," Betiku said. "I need to finalize that still. I'm really excited to see A&M this weekend, it's going to be a crazy atmosphere and I heard there's a ton of recruits that will be there. I've been high on them for a long time now so I'm excited to go check them out.

"My last two visits are still open. I'm just going to wait and see what happens and let things play out. It could be a school will call me one day out of the blue and I'll decide to take a visit there. I do plan to take all five though.

As for his commitment to UCLA, Betiku said he's still solid but also wants to keep his options open.

"I still like UCLA a lot," Betiku said. "I still feel good about them but also want to take all these visits with an open mind. I'm going trip by trip and what to make sure I find the best place for me. I don't want to make a mistake because you only go through this once and the next four years will be huge for me.

"I'm still on track to graduate early but if I have any doubts about where I'm going, I'll wait until Signing Day if I have to. I just need to make sure I'm doing the right thing here and I won't rush in to anything. I know this decision will affect the rest of my list so I'm being open minded to everyone right now."

 

[NDPhilly]

So much for being academically focused. Oh well.

 

[Luckylucci]

So much for being academically focused. Oh well.

See Da'Shawn Hand, he was very academically focused as well. These kids are very good with PR. Say all the right things to the media and then on NSD make the decision as you'll never be questioned about academics being important again.

 

[dublinirish]

See Da'Shawn Hand, he was very academically focused as well. These kids are very good with PR. Say all the right things to the media and then on NSD make the decision as you'll never be questioned about academics being important again.

we have seen it in the past too that kids will have a ND/Duke/NW/Stanford hat on the table so they can say "they care about academics" when really alot of the time its just for show

 

[drake29]

Or maybe he is excited for all the hype and believes he can still get a meaningful degree. ND isn't the only quality University in the United States. Better than a vast majority with a higher graduation rate? Yes. But there are individuals that play for other schools that will graduate and be set up for the rest of their lives.

 

[irishroo]

Or maybe he is excited for all the hype and believes he can still get a meaningful degree. ND isn't the only quality University in the United States. Better than a vast majority with a higher graduation rate? Yes. But there are individuals that play for other schools that will graduate and be set up for the rest of their lives.

Yep. Michigan's a perfect example for football players - great school that you can get a top-notch education at if you're willing to genuinely commit to doing so, but the university and football program aren't going to provide you anywhere near the level of support and resources towards that goal that Notre Dame will provide.

 

[dublinirish]

Or maybe he is excited for all the hype and believes he can still get a meaningful degree. ND isn't the only quality University in the United States. Better than a vast majority with a higher graduation rate? Yes. But there are individuals that play for other schools that will graduate and be set up for the rest of their lives.

the issue is alot of kids are promised great degrees by schools and then when they get on campus are pressured into taking certain classes which narrow their choice of final degree down considerably.

 

[Luckylucci]

Yep. Michigan's a perfect example for football players - great school that you can get a top-notch education at if you're willing to genuinely commit to doing so, but the university and football program aren't going to provide you anywhere near the level of support and resources towards that goal that Notre Dame will provide.

Yes, that's the point. Hand didn't choose Michigan. Don't believe A&M fits into that category either but not worth the time to look up.

 

[RDU Irish]

C'mon - most programs funnel the players to protected classes and degrees. The #1 focus is maintaining eligibility not getting a true education. Michigan is as bad as anybody in this regard.

His level of excitement about being worshipped at FSU rather than being part of the student body is telling to me. He gone.

 

[ND NYC]

C'mon - most programs funnel the players to protected classes and degrees. The #1 focus is maintaining eligibility not getting a true education. Michigan is as bad as anybody in this regard.

His level of excitement about being worshipped at FSU rather than being part of the student body is telling to me. He gone.

yup.
and their head coach even said as much couple years ago. can anyone find that quote?

 

[Big23Head]

Scout: locked in OV for the WF game. Senior day.

 

[NDPhilly]

Just officialed to Texas A&M and FSU. Sucks that its against Wake Forest but still huge that we get a visit. Think he's the type of kid that could just fall in love with ND on a visit. Going 10-2/11-1 helps too.

BTW the kid is an absolute freak. Not many kids going their senior year of HS look like this.

 

[Irish#1]

Just officialed to Texas A&M and FSU. Sucks that its against Wake Forest but still huge that we get a visit. Think he's the type of kid that could just fall in love with ND on a visit. Going 10-2/11-1 helps too.

BTW the kid is an absolute freak. Not many kids going their senior year of HS look like this.

I don't think we have a realistic chance and I hope I'm wrong.

 

[irishnd31]

I don't think we have a realistic chance and I hope I'm wrong.

 

[arndtjc]

Decommitted from UCLA


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[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

HUGE WANT