UMD is first to offer break out 2016 DE

As Oluwole Betiku went through the check in line at the Washington D.C. edition of the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour, people were shocked by the chiseled 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end. Nobody knew who he was or where he had come from.

As it turns out, the Nigerian lives with and is mentored by former NFL linebacker and former Penn State all-american Lavar Arrington and will be a junior at Forestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara in the fall. After an impressive performance on Sunday at St. John's College High School in Washington D.C., Maryland, Betiku's new hometown team, offered him a scholarship.

"I was so happy when I heard I got my first offer from Maryland," said Betiku. "Lavar and one of my other coaches told me about the offer today. I couldn't believe it. I have to pinch myself and ask myself 'did I really get an offer?'

"So many guys at Bishop McNamara play for a long time and may get an offer their senior year," he said. "I just came over from Nigeria and got an offer right away. It's really big for me. It's the biggest thing that's happened to me in my life."

Betiku already knows a little bit about Maryland.

"I know Shawne Merriman went there and I know Maryland is an Under Armour school," said Betiku. "I know they are building the team up. I also know that a Nigerian player from the same foundation I was at in Nigeria went to Maryland last year, Nnamdi Egbuaba. I met one of the coaches once very briefly but I've never visited Maryland."

Betiku visited Penn State a few weeks ago.

"All the Penn State coaches were really impressed with some of my videos on YouTube," he said. "Coach Franklin said his wife is half Nigerian and he was telling me stories about how he was trying to speak the language. He told me about his daughters and how they have Nigerian names. In the hallway of one of their buildings I saw pictures of Lavar and (Bishop McNamara head coach) coach Goganious. It was really nice. The stadium was really nice with a big capacity."

Maryland and Penn State aren't the only schools with an eye ok Betiku.

"Virginia Tech came to my school and I got the coach's card," Betiku said. "I called him that night and he said I should come down for a work out in the spring."

Betiku was one of the top underlcassmen at the Washington D.C. Edition of the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour.