Late on Wednesday during team study hall, I got to talk with 2015 CB Tyrek Cole. Many think that Miramar's 2015 class is loaded, and Cole leads the list of players for that group.
For those who don't know, Cole recently accepted an invitation to play in the 2015 Under Armour All-American game. The Miramar star was pleased that he was even nominated. "It means alot to me," Said Cole. "It means that I'm one of the best players inside the country. That makes me feel like I'm a good player, and it also makes me want to work hard so I can be great."
Miramar has a history of All-Americans, but those players (Geno Smith - Parade Magazine; Ivan McCartney and Tracy Howard - U.S. Army, Jermaine Grace - Semper Fidelis) didn't play in the Under Armour game. Cole had this to say about why he chose to go his own way: "Well, I sat down with coach and my parents and talked about it. Coach said that the Army one was far (from home) and it was more work than fun. He just wanted me to go out there and have fun, and be closer to my family, so they could all come see me play in the All-American game. And, coach said Under Armour gives you more equipment and stuff like that, so that was cool too."
The equipment (free swag, as Cole called it) isn't the only thing that drew Cole to the Under Armour game. "I talked with (Jackson WR) Jovon (Durante) and he worked on me to get me to the Under Armour game. After I chose to play in that game, he was saying 'you might as well commit to West Virginia (where Durante is committed) too.'"
Cole has been talking about his recruiting a lot (didn't know that? Read about that here). When asked who has been talking to him more, coaches or players, this is what Cole had to say: "I mean, I listen to the coaches (from the schools) and players too. Guys like Tracy (Howard), Malcolm (Lewis) and other guys like that."
While Cole is thankful for the exposure and opportunities that have come from following a guy like Tracy Howard at Miramar, he isn't basing his college decision on what others have done before him. "I'm open and willing to do whatever I have to do to find the school that's the right fit for me, get there and ball out."
Obviously, the center of Cole's stardom is his on field performance. He does a great job staying with receivers and largely keeping them from catching the ball. But, like any player, there are players who challenge his skills. I asked Cole who are some of the best receivers he's faced through the summer and first half of the regular season. "Devante Peete from St. Thomas is a tough guy to cover. His height and length make him hard to cover. Also, Johnny Dixon from Dwyer. We played them in a 7-on-7 tournament, and man, he has EVERYTHING. Routes. Technique. Speed. Hands. He's the total package."
I couldn't let this interview finish without touching back on recruiting for a minute. I asked Cole the ONE 2015 player he would like to have on his team at the next level, and he didn't even let me finish the question before giving his answer. "Jaquan Johnson from Killian. He's a great safety, and a great leader. He knows how to have fun on the field, and we would be great together in the secondary."
While there's a long time before his All-American game or college decision, it seems that Tyrek Cole has put a lot of thought into this process. And, with continued success on the field, I'm sure more and more people will be thinking, and talking, about him.
For those who don't know, Cole recently accepted an invitation to play in the 2015 Under Armour All-American game. The Miramar star was pleased that he was even nominated. "It means alot to me," Said Cole. "It means that I'm one of the best players inside the country. That makes me feel like I'm a good player, and it also makes me want to work hard so I can be great."
Miramar has a history of All-Americans, but those players (Geno Smith - Parade Magazine; Ivan McCartney and Tracy Howard - U.S. Army, Jermaine Grace - Semper Fidelis) didn't play in the Under Armour game. Cole had this to say about why he chose to go his own way: "Well, I sat down with coach and my parents and talked about it. Coach said that the Army one was far (from home) and it was more work than fun. He just wanted me to go out there and have fun, and be closer to my family, so they could all come see me play in the All-American game. And, coach said Under Armour gives you more equipment and stuff like that, so that was cool too."
The equipment (free swag, as Cole called it) isn't the only thing that drew Cole to the Under Armour game. "I talked with (Jackson WR) Jovon (Durante) and he worked on me to get me to the Under Armour game. After I chose to play in that game, he was saying 'you might as well commit to West Virginia (where Durante is committed) too.'"
Cole has been talking about his recruiting a lot (didn't know that? Read about that here). When asked who has been talking to him more, coaches or players, this is what Cole had to say: "I mean, I listen to the coaches (from the schools) and players too. Guys like Tracy (Howard), Malcolm (Lewis) and other guys like that."
While Cole is thankful for the exposure and opportunities that have come from following a guy like Tracy Howard at Miramar, he isn't basing his college decision on what others have done before him. "I'm open and willing to do whatever I have to do to find the school that's the right fit for me, get there and ball out."
Obviously, the center of Cole's stardom is his on field performance. He does a great job staying with receivers and largely keeping them from catching the ball. But, like any player, there are players who challenge his skills. I asked Cole who are some of the best receivers he's faced through the summer and first half of the regular season. "Devante Peete from St. Thomas is a tough guy to cover. His height and length make him hard to cover. Also, Johnny Dixon from Dwyer. We played them in a 7-on-7 tournament, and man, he has EVERYTHING. Routes. Technique. Speed. Hands. He's the total package."
I couldn't let this interview finish without touching back on recruiting for a minute. I asked Cole the ONE 2015 player he would like to have on his team at the next level, and he didn't even let me finish the question before giving his answer. "Jaquan Johnson from Killian. He's a great safety, and a great leader. He knows how to have fun on the field, and we would be great together in the secondary."
While there's a long time before his All-American game or college decision, it seems that Tyrek Cole has put a lot of thought into this process. And, with continued success on the field, I'm sure more and more people will be thinking, and talking, about him.
