Big Ten program close for Emilien

DORAL, Fla. – Shortly after receiving his first offer from the University of Connecticut, Lauderhill (Fla.) Plantation defensive back Vladimir Emilien is close to picking up more official mail. The hard hitting safety isn't just sparking local interest either.

"I was talking to (Ohio State defensive backs coach) Haynes for a little bit," Emilien said. "I gave him my highlight tape. He has seen it and he said he loved it. He wanted to get me up to the Spring Game. He said he wanted to offer me."

The offer from Ohio State may have already come if not for spring break and Emilien is very interested.

"The offer isn't gonna come until next Wednesday because of spring break," Emilien said on Sunday. "Ohio State has a great program. They love speed and they love people from Florida so basically I love them. I'm going to be playing free safety slash cornerback slash everything DB."

Louisville has also told the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder that an offer could be coming very soon and Emilien is intrigued. He is as much interested in both Ohio State and Louisville for their academics as he is for football.

"I'm just trying to go somewhere and be productive," he said. "I'm just trying to go to the league. If something bad happens, if I break my leg or something, I can fall back on my education. Ohio State and Louisville are big names in the industry right now so if I graduate, I should get six figures. That's the way I look at it."

Two other schools have shown significant interest in Emilien, one within the state and another from Big Ten country. With Ohio State coming on, Emilien believes that the Buckeyes' rivals have taken their lead.

"USF is really on me and Michigan is starting to get on me because Ohio State and them are rivals," he said. "USF is an up and coming program. They're number two or were ranked number two in the country late in the season. I feel they're a building program and I feel that in the next three or 4 years they can contend for a national championship.

"Michigan, they're always a good team. I would be glad to get an offer from them. They would surprise me."

Emilien's play on his 7-on-7 team made up of Broward County players and out-Dade County has proven that he has his stock on the rise. His roaming physical presence at free safety is scary even with the pads sitting back in the locker room.