Arkansas, Oklahoma have played host to Danielson Ike

Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst offensive tackle Danielson Ike should be one of the most intriguing class of 2019 Midwest prospects in the coming off-season. With his recruitment poised to take off, Ike has started to make college visits with Arkansas and Oklahoma among his in-season stops.

THE LATEST

Ike arrived in the United States just over two years ago from his native Nigeria, never having seen a football game previously. He quickly hit the college recruiting radar once he started picking up the game and Bowling Green, Temple and Syracuse offered him despite never having played a down of live football. Transfer rules meant this 2017 season was Ike’s first live-game action and he is playing right tackle for an 8-3 Rockhurst team this fall. Invites came from the likes of Auburn, Florida State and Ohio State to attend summer camp, but a hip flexor issues precluded him from taking those schools up on their offer. Ike has made college game visits this season, traveling down to Arkansas on Sept. 9 and Oklahoma on Oct. 7.

IN HIS WORDS

“I am really interested in Arkansas and the same with OU. I got a good impression when I went to OU. It was nice down there. Just the team, the atmosphere, the field – I was impressed with everything. I saw the team during warmups and was just like, ‘Wow, this is a good place to be.’ When I was at Oklahoma I met an alumni who plays for the (Denver) Broncos, Corey Nelson. He just told me to keep my head down, focus on the game and get the grades.”

RIVALS’ REACTION

That Ike has not garnered more scholarship offers this fall is surprising. Three schools offered him before he even played a snap of organized football, and now with his first live-game footage out one would expect additional offers to rush in. Ike has been dealing with an ankle injury this fall that he readily admits has limited his movement, but the film does show willingness to be aggressive and an impressive skill set. Kentucky has made inquiries recently and Ike has spoken with Graduate Assistant Dillon Sanders over there, so that is a school which could make a move on a scholarship soon. Either way, once that first school or couple schools make offers, expect the floodgates to open.