Canadian DB talks early offers

High-profile prospects like class of 2014 Rivals250 quarterback Michael O'Connor have opened the northern border and allowed Canadian prospects to get more looks from Division I programs.

One of those to benefit is Ottawa (Ont.) St. Peter's class of 2016 cornerback Patrice Rene, who holds early offers from Syracuse and Akron.

"It means a lot to me, being that young and seeing schools have faith in me and believe in me," Rene said. "I feel really blessed about it and am feeling good about those two offers."

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Rene visited Akron last summer and said he liked what he saw. He has already been to Syracuse several times for recruiting visits.

"Syracuse, I have a great connection with them," Rene said. "I have been there three times already and saw a game. I am really tight with the coaches - Coach [Scott] Shafer, Coach [Fred] Reed."

O'Connor enrolled at Penn State this past winter, while another former St. Peter's prospect, Eli Ankou, is now at UCLA. Those connections have helped Rene get recognized by both schools early in the process.

"UCLA has already contacted me and I have talked to them a bit," Rene said. "I also have Penn State recruiting me. With the new coaches coming in from Vanderbilt, they were recruiting me at Vanderbilt also so that works perfectly. I am probably going to go down there this summer for a visit and to camp there."

Other schools that are showing early interest in Rene include Notre Dame, Minnesota, Rutgers, Wisconsin and Cincinnati.

Like O'Connor and Ankou before him, Rene will be transferring to a school in the States to play out his final two seasons of prep ball. He will enroll for the 2014-15 school year at Episcopal High in Alexandria, Va.