"I just like how young their team is, their defense, and Coach
Nutt coming in there and turning it around," added Dele Junaid. "I like
the role they are going to have for me. I will have a chance to play early at
Ole Miss. I also went down there this summer and spent a few days over there,
and I really liked the environment around there. Everything seemed nice. It seemed
like a good place for me to be."
The staff at Ole Miss also played
an important role.
"I talk to Coach (Kim) Dameron every week. I
just got off of the phone with him last night, as a matter of fact. They have
a lot of energy and bring a lot of fire to the game. They have everything I am
looking for."
While Dele remains committed, that has not stopped a
few competing schools from trying to change his mind.
"It slowed down
a lot when I committed, but Boise State, Houston, and Baylor still call a lot.
I tell them that I am still committed, and they just let me know that if anything
happens, they will be there for me."
Junaid has not had a chance to
watch Ole Miss play in person this season, but he has gotten a chance to see them
play on TV.
"I saw them play Florida and Alabama. Their safeties are
pretty good. With me coming in, and being so young, I will have to work my way
up. But I am going to try and earn a starting job as soon as I get there. I will
have to work hard, but I want to be their next starting safety."
What
did the Hightower product observe while watching the Ole Miss secondary?
"They
are real good. I like their secondary. They let them run free. They get to play
the run and pass. They are not just one dimensional, one way or the other."
Junaid's
junior season saw him total 66 tackles, 9 pass breakups, 3 int's, 5 tackles for
losses, and 2 fumble recoveries. How is his senior season going?
"Good.
We are 7-0 right now. I have about 38 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 2 int's, 4 caused
fumbles, and 3 recovered fumbles. My coverage skills are better this year. I have
better range."
Has Dele set up his official visit with Ole Miss yet,
and will he take anymore visits?
"No, I am going to get to that after
my season is over. We are talking about visiting in January because we will hopefully
still be alive in the playoffs through December. As to taking other visits, I
doubt it. I have my mind pretty much made."
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