JUCO corner has connections

When cornerback Mohammed Saleh was coming out of high school last year few doubted his ability to play college football in the Division I ranks.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back from Celebration High School in Florida is now at Erie Community College in Orchard Park, New York, in an effort to get his grades in order and move on to where he ultimately wants to be.

"This is my first year up here and it's going alright," Saleh explained. "I'm enjoying it. I'm from Florida, so being up here in Buffalo is different. There's a big difference from high school to college, even though it's junior college. I'm just riding the waves right now."

The transition is going well on the field as well for Saleh. While he isn't sure of his stats he told Rivals.com that he has recorded a lot of tackles, five pass breakups and a safety on defense this year.

"Actually, me and another DB play corner and safety," he said. "We've got two other corners that (the coach) likes there, so they have me at free safety but I've played both. The past three games I've played safety but the first three I was at corner. I can play deep and lock up on a man, too."

That versatility and maturity at two positions could come in handy for Saleh, as he plans on continuing to market himself to college programs. He's scheduled to be at Erie C.C. through the rest of this year and next, so he is classified as a prospect in the Class of 2011.

Coming out of high school Saleh received interest from several schools, and he also has a connection at an SEC program. Those connections should come in handy later in the recruiting process.

"I've been getting a lot of looks. Buffalo came to the school today to talk to me and all the people here. I got a phone call from Iowa State the other day asking for film. They recruited me out of high school. Basically it's all the schools that were looking at me out of high school. I talked to my high school coach and he said once they see my film and see the difference from high school to college they'll offer me on the spot.

"Also, I'm hearing from UCF, since I'm from the Orlando area. I've actually got a connection to South Carolina, too. My cousin (Akeem Auguste) starts for them at corner. He's pulled some strings and they've liked me since high school.

"He (Auguste) signed with South Carolina and had to go to prep school. They told me to go to the same one or go to a JUCO. With the prep school, I didn't really have anybody to help me out. It was like $14,000, and the head coach was supposed to give me a partial scholarship, but I didn't have anybody bite on me. So I had to make that transition (to junior college)."

Once Saleh leaves Eric C.C., he plans on changing his last name to Auguste.