It’s been a long and winding road for 2019 Rockledge DE Dorien Josey. Last year at this time, he was strictly a basketball player: he hadn’t played organized football since middle school. Finally, after years of nagging, the football coaches at Rockledge got Josey on the field as a defensive end for the 2017 season, and the results spoke for themselves: 45 tackles, 16 sacks, and 20 TFL. Not bad for someone who hasn’t played the sport in half a decade.
“Yeah it’s been 5 years, but I did pretty good,” Josey said. “My coaches been asking me to play since freshman year and my mom told me to give it a try.”
Although he is still an unknown to the recruiting services as an unranked prospect, his explosive return to the gridiron has earned Josey plenty of attention from D-I college coaches. The rising senior has now received offers from Miami, Georgia, Ole Miss, UCF, USF, FIU, and Western Kentucky, while the Florida Gators are also close to offering as well.
“I hear a lot from Miami, Florida, I’m hearing a lot from USF,” Josey said. “Haven’t really heard from Georgia as much lately.”
The 6’4” 238 pound end was on Miami’s campus for Junior Day as an invited recruit recently and talked about the impression that the program made on him.
“I learned a lot about the program, it was good,” Josey said on his UM visit. “When I got down there, I watched the spring practice, it was really intense. It seemed like it was a family down there. They do a lot of supportive things about life and there’s some good coaches. They get on you about school, they don’t slack off, they don’t take days off, and they have a lot of mentors and tutors there for the athletes. I really like Miami.”
Another aspect about UM’s campus that appeals to Josey? The brand new on-campus housing that is planned to open shortly.
“There are gonna be some new dorms for the class of 2019 when I’d be there, so if I do go there, I’d be the first to live in it.”
The Canes’ defensive coaching staff love Josey’s game and Josey can see himself fitting into Manny Diaz’s fast and physical defense.
“They like the way I play, they say they like my athleticism and how I can get into the backfield and use my speed,” Josey said. “It’s the coaches and the campus (that set Miami apart). I really like their defense, they’re fast.”
His visit tour has not been limited to the Canes, though: Josey has been busy making trips to see other interested parties, checking in at Gainesville this past weekend, and he also plans to be in Tampa this week.
“I went to UF on Saturday and I’ll be going to USF to visit on Thursday,” Josey said.
Being so new to the recruiting process, it’s likely other schools will get involved with Josey at some point soon, so he isn’t planning any kind of quick decision and will let everything play out a bit. Academics appear to be the top priority for Josey both in his senior year of high school and in his future college. Josey also isn’t ruling out being a two-sport athlete at the next level, and some coaches (not UM) are telling him he will be able to do both.
“Well, for senior year, I’m gonna keep my grades up, that’s the most important thing. School is first,” Josey said. “I’m doing football and basketball this year, a lot of schools said I could do both.”
(Only game-by-game highlights available)
“Yeah it’s been 5 years, but I did pretty good,” Josey said. “My coaches been asking me to play since freshman year and my mom told me to give it a try.”
Although he is still an unknown to the recruiting services as an unranked prospect, his explosive return to the gridiron has earned Josey plenty of attention from D-I college coaches. The rising senior has now received offers from Miami, Georgia, Ole Miss, UCF, USF, FIU, and Western Kentucky, while the Florida Gators are also close to offering as well.
“I hear a lot from Miami, Florida, I’m hearing a lot from USF,” Josey said. “Haven’t really heard from Georgia as much lately.”
The 6’4” 238 pound end was on Miami’s campus for Junior Day as an invited recruit recently and talked about the impression that the program made on him.
“I learned a lot about the program, it was good,” Josey said on his UM visit. “When I got down there, I watched the spring practice, it was really intense. It seemed like it was a family down there. They do a lot of supportive things about life and there’s some good coaches. They get on you about school, they don’t slack off, they don’t take days off, and they have a lot of mentors and tutors there for the athletes. I really like Miami.”
Another aspect about UM’s campus that appeals to Josey? The brand new on-campus housing that is planned to open shortly.
“There are gonna be some new dorms for the class of 2019 when I’d be there, so if I do go there, I’d be the first to live in it.”
The Canes’ defensive coaching staff love Josey’s game and Josey can see himself fitting into Manny Diaz’s fast and physical defense.
“They like the way I play, they say they like my athleticism and how I can get into the backfield and use my speed,” Josey said. “It’s the coaches and the campus (that set Miami apart). I really like their defense, they’re fast.”
His visit tour has not been limited to the Canes, though: Josey has been busy making trips to see other interested parties, checking in at Gainesville this past weekend, and he also plans to be in Tampa this week.
“I went to UF on Saturday and I’ll be going to USF to visit on Thursday,” Josey said.
Being so new to the recruiting process, it’s likely other schools will get involved with Josey at some point soon, so he isn’t planning any kind of quick decision and will let everything play out a bit. Academics appear to be the top priority for Josey both in his senior year of high school and in his future college. Josey also isn’t ruling out being a two-sport athlete at the next level, and some coaches (not UM) are telling him he will be able to do both.
“Well, for senior year, I’m gonna keep my grades up, that’s the most important thing. School is first,” Josey said. “I’m doing football and basketball this year, a lot of schools said I could do both.”
(Only game-by-game highlights available)
