Adeleye Talks Recruiting Priorities On and Off the Field
Tunmise Adeleye had a fairly linear plan when it came to recruiting. Use the spring to visit top contenders for his verbal commitment, hit top prospect camps leading into the summer to see where he stacks up nationally and then make a decision public August 1.
Of course the travel elements of those plans have been slashed due to the novel coronavirus, which has all but shut down in-person recruiting for the foreseeable future.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive end, a Texas native now at IMG Academy in Florida, had visits planned to Alabama this weekend, followed by stops at Oklahoma, Ohio State and Texas A&M through mid April. The new NCAA recruiting dead period, prohibiting visits, currently runs through April 15.
Adeleye did get in a trip to Florida before the new policies were put in place. The early March stop left another strong impression on the rising senior recruit.
"It was a chill experience, it was more personal, got to spent a lot of time with coaches," he said. "Coach (David) Turner, Coach (Tim) Brewster, Coach (Dan) Mullen sat down with me for a long time just chopping it up. Got to spend some time with some players afterwards, it was a good time. It was my third time there.
"I look at Florida like this, it's the best of both worlds. You have alumni that is going to take care of you for the rest of your life, the University of Florida is a national brand. Two, academics. It's a top 10 public institution for the last two years. Then football, Coach (Nick) Savage is going to develop you in the weight room and Coach Turner is going to develop you on the field. You will have a chance to compete for a national championship in the next four years, I firmly believe that with the track that they're on and with the recruits they're getting. It has everything you can look for."
While the additional contenders, and trips to those campuses, is on hold Adeleye is not naming favorites at this time. He does say the programs courting him most will receive similar attention leading to the proposed commitment date.
"Schools that are showing the most interest in me, I'm going to reciprocate it and show interest in them," he said. "I've planned on committing August 1. Any visits I will take before then aren't clout chasing, going to other schools just because. Any school that I'm at it's because they have a chance to land my commitment."
There are clear on and off the field boxes the edge prospect is evaluating with each option.
"For the most part I view most of the schools that I'm looking at as national championship contenders," Adeleye said. "If I'm visiting a school it's because I see something in them that shows me they have the possibility of winning a national championship while I'm at that university.
"I'm also very invested in alumni bases. There's a lot of schools strong there, like A&M, Texas, Florida, Ohio State. There's lots of schools that once you're done with football, they'll take care of you for the rest of your life."
When projecting where one of the top prospects in the class of 2021 may land, assuming the Lone Star State options have an advantage may be off base.
"I don't see that being as true," he said. "I can go anywhere in the country, it doesn't matter to me. If any school in Texas feels like just because I'm from Texas that they're golden or set, they better tighten up because a lot of other schools are putting the pressure up."
Adeleye, who took the SAT in addition to continuing to work on his craft back in Texas during the extended break from IMG, reportedly has more than 30 scholarship offers to his name.
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