Yesterday was a whirlwind of a day for Booker T. Washington linebacker Demetrius Jackson. After weeks of talk whether he would stick with his Miami commitment or not, Jackson officially decommitted before committing later in the day.
“Honestly, you know I’m so new to this process, but I realize it’s a privilege to have an opportunity to play at the University of Miami. It’s done and that’s where I’m going. All other offers are closed. If I could sign early, I would, but I have to wait ‘till February,” said Jackson.
A talk with Miami linebackers coach Micheal Barrow was one of the major reasons for Jackson changing his mind back so quickly.
“He was just telling me about family and how there are seniors leaving at the position they’re recruiting me at. He talked to me about how it’s a prestigious college and I thought about how they were the first school on me when I was a 0-star recruit so I wanted to show loyalty by sticking by them and loyalty is extremely important to me. I see that the Canes family sticks by me because I saw how they went crazy when they thought they were losing me, but I’m staying.”
What kind of role did his family make in his decision to stay in Miami?
“All of my family is honestly die-hard Canes fans and they were upset when I was thinking about my decision. What if I get homesick? I can always catch the Metrorail back or they can come to campus to see me and I can see their face and hear their voices because I love my family to death. I love this Overtown community where I come from to death. After a game, I’m not one of those players who is bigheaded. I like to go and hang around my home boys and the old dudes.”
Jackson will receive an in-home visit from Barrow, Jethro Franklin, and Mark D’Onofrio tomorrow night. D’Onofrio has an idea of how he will use Jackson at Miami.
“He says I’m going to be a stand-up rusher and outside linebacker, so that’s why I need to fill out quickly once I get to the college level.”
The Tornadoes just finished off their undefeated season with a State Championship win over Jacksonville Bolles.
“It felt so great, man. I was jumping around the field, doing backflips. It felt like I was on top of the world and I still can’t believe it. We’re national champs. Little old Booker T in the heart of Overtown is national champs. That’s a blessing because back in the Spring I was a nobody and now everyone knows my name. I still have that in my mind that I’m still a low-key guy and humble. I would do it all over again the same way if I could.”
Some Miami fans are worried about his BTW teammates Chad Thomas and Nigel Bethel taking visits elsewhere. Does Jackson see the three of them at Miami together.
“I honestly think so because we have built a bond and we don’t want to break that.”
“Honestly, you know I’m so new to this process, but I realize it’s a privilege to have an opportunity to play at the University of Miami. It’s done and that’s where I’m going. All other offers are closed. If I could sign early, I would, but I have to wait ‘till February,” said Jackson.
A talk with Miami linebackers coach Micheal Barrow was one of the major reasons for Jackson changing his mind back so quickly.
“He was just telling me about family and how there are seniors leaving at the position they’re recruiting me at. He talked to me about how it’s a prestigious college and I thought about how they were the first school on me when I was a 0-star recruit so I wanted to show loyalty by sticking by them and loyalty is extremely important to me. I see that the Canes family sticks by me because I saw how they went crazy when they thought they were losing me, but I’m staying.”
What kind of role did his family make in his decision to stay in Miami?
“All of my family is honestly die-hard Canes fans and they were upset when I was thinking about my decision. What if I get homesick? I can always catch the Metrorail back or they can come to campus to see me and I can see their face and hear their voices because I love my family to death. I love this Overtown community where I come from to death. After a game, I’m not one of those players who is bigheaded. I like to go and hang around my home boys and the old dudes.”
Jackson will receive an in-home visit from Barrow, Jethro Franklin, and Mark D’Onofrio tomorrow night. D’Onofrio has an idea of how he will use Jackson at Miami.
“He says I’m going to be a stand-up rusher and outside linebacker, so that’s why I need to fill out quickly once I get to the college level.”
The Tornadoes just finished off their undefeated season with a State Championship win over Jacksonville Bolles.
“It felt so great, man. I was jumping around the field, doing backflips. It felt like I was on top of the world and I still can’t believe it. We’re national champs. Little old Booker T in the heart of Overtown is national champs. That’s a blessing because back in the Spring I was a nobody and now everyone knows my name. I still have that in my mind that I’m still a low-key guy and humble. I would do it all over again the same way if I could.”
Some Miami fans are worried about his BTW teammates Chad Thomas and Nigel Bethel taking visits elsewhere. Does Jackson see the three of them at Miami together.
“I honestly think so because we have built a bond and we don’t want to break that.”
