Deal is paying dividends
Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha has churned out about as many big time college football players as any high school in the country. Taiwan Deal wants to add his name to that list. The junior running back already has offers from Tennessee and Maryland but, right now, Deal is keeping his focus on the field.
"I don't really know which schools are my favorite yet because I'm all about DeMatha football right now and getting that championship," said the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Deal. "We beat Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga to get to the WCAC championship game."
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DeMatha plays Olney (Md.) Our Lady of Good Counsel on Sunday at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis (Md.).
"Personally, I like Tennessee, I've always liked it," Deal said. "Arian Foster came from there and it's the SEC. I haven't been there yet but from what I've heard and seen on TV it's pretty nice. I'm really excited to make it down there at some point, maybe for one of their games. A new coach wouldn't change how I feel about Tennessee. We had a coaching change at DeMatha and I didn't think anything of it.
"I like Maryland a lot. It's close to home and I've been there a few times. I went to the N.C. State and Wake Forest games. I've seen games, the facilities, eaten in the cafeteria and I like the food," he laughed. "I've talked to the coaches, (Randy) Edsall, (Mike) Locksley and (Brian) Stewart. They really like me and I've been to their camp and they really like how I performed there."
Deal has also visited a few other schools.
"The coaches at West Virginia were great," Deal said. "I went to the locker room and saw the players before the game. It's a different, nice atmosphere. It would be fun to be part of an atmosphere like that.
"Duke has really nice facilities, brand new actually," he said. "The practice field is right next to the game field. I've never experienced something like that down there. They have an indoor facility for practices.
"North Carolina was good. I liked a lot of things about it," said Deal. "The facilities, fields, coaches, weight room, campus, people and students were all great. The students were great, very welcoming."
Penn State, Rutgers, Boston College, Massachusetts, Northwestern, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech have all been in contact with Deal but he hasn't really been able to think about which ones he likes.
"I can't really say right now which ones are sticking out," he explained. "I haven't really had time during the season.
"I want to visit Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Boston College," said Deal. "Really, I want to visit every college I can so I can see where I'd like to go and fit in. Location isn't really a big deal to me. I would love to go out and be a part of a different atmosphere, I wouldn't have a problem with that. Sometimes I get pretty sick of being in Maryland. That doesn't mean I don't like the Terps, it's a great school and I'd love to stay home but I just don't know yet.
"When it comes down to decision time it's going to be what I like. If I like the school, the location and how the fans treat me."
DeMatha plays Good Counsel on Sunday for the WCAC Championship. Earlier this season, Good Counsel beat DeMatha 13-10.