Advertisement
football Edit

Abdullah lands first two BCS offers

There may not be a player in the country that has done more for his stock with camp performances this spring and summer than Homewood (Ala.) High School running back Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah was a virtual unknown before this spring but has worked out at numerous camps around the southeast to remedy that fact. As June comes to a close, the camp work is beginning to pay off as Abdullah has now picked up his first two BCS offers.
Abdullah'a emergence began with an MVP performance at the LSU Nike Camp. He followed that up with a rare repeat MVP performance at the Tuscaloosa Nike Camp. Abdullah then attended some college camps and had strong performances. Among them, Vanderbilt hosted the 5-9, 171-pounder. The Commodores promptly offered.
Advertisement
"Vanderbilt offered last week, I think either Wednesday or Thursday," Abdullah said. "I talked to Coach Robert Caldwell on the phone. He told me that they were going to send me it in the mail and they were offering me full tuition. He said that they liked my work ethic and ability and wanted me to come to Vanderbilt."
The offer impressed Abdullah as much for what Vanderbilt represents off the field as for what it's been able to do on it.
"I feel like Vanderbilt is a great school with academics," he said. "Obviously Vanderbilt is one of the top schools in the country academically. It's in the SEC and it doesn't get any better than that. That's the best conference in the country. I feel like it's a great school and has a lot to offer me on the field and particularly off the field."
While Abdullah had to go to Vanderbilt to earn that offer, Texas A&M is another recent offer that came almost completely out of the blue.
"That offer came in at my school," he said of A&M. "My coach gave me a letter from Coach Nick Toth. I haven't really talked to him at all. It was kind of random but an offer is an offer. I was really excited because that's a big time conference. It's a great school and a great institution and I really felt like my recruiting was picking up and where it needed to be. I felt like my hard work was really paying off."
Along with Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, Abdullah also holds offers from Arkansas State, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee State. Abdullah points to three other schools that could be close to offering in Auburn, West Virginia and Miami.
The interest for Abdullah won't slow down his furious camp circuit. This weekend, Abdullah will take part in the BadgerSports 7on7 national championship. He will likely go to Auburn's July camp as well as camp at Alabama and he is continuing to keep his eyes open for more camp opportunities. Abdullah does have his eye on the fall though where he is setting some lofty goals for himself.
"One of my goals is to rush for over 1,500 yards and that's a real big goal," he said. "If I just get to 400 yards I'll be one of the best backs to go through Homewood following Robert Davis. I'll be second all-time in rushing if I get 400 more yards.
"Right now I'm just working with the school and trying to get better with the team. Last year we finished 5-5 and I don't want another mediocre season. I want to be contending for a state title this year."
As a junior, Abdullah rushed for 1,045 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is rated by Rivals.com as the No. 14 player in the state of Alabama.
Advertisement