Prep Charter's Dioubate still debating college choice
National signing day is less than two weeks away, and one of the state's most sought-after football recruits has yet to choose his college destination.
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National signing day is less than two weeks away, and one of the state's most sought-after football recruits has yet to choose his college destination.
Prep Charter's Karamo Dioubate, a 6-foot-4, 277-pound senior defensive end and four-star prospect according to Scout.com, is giving serious consideration to four schools after decomitting from Penn State on Jan. 7.
In no particular order, Michigan State, South Carolina, Temple, and Ohio State are in the running for his services. Signing day is Feb. 3.
Dioubate was scheduled to leave Friday for an official visit to Michigan State, to be followed a day later with a trip to South Carolina. But the mammoth lineman told Prep Charter coach David Hand that he had to cancel his weekend itinerary because of a death in his family.
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio and Penn State boss James Franklin visited Dioubate last week. Of Michigan State, Hand said: "That's one of the schools he really wanted to visit."
Dioubate took an unofficial visit to Ohio State last spring. Hand said new Buckeyes defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, the former Rutgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach, "absolutely loves Karamo."
New South Carolina defensive line coach Lance Thompson, who started recruiting Dioubate when he was at Auburn, was in town Wednesday to visit the Prep Charter standout.
Instead of going to Ohio State last weekend, Dioubate, an Inquirer first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection, took an official visit to Temple.
"He has a good relationship with Temple's defensive line coach," said Hand, referring to Elijah Robinson.
Robinson recently completed his second season on North Broad Street. A defensive tackle at Camden's Woodrow Wilson and Penn State, he previously was part of the Nittany Lions staff under former boss Bill O'Brien.
Hand said Dioubate, who is also being pursued by Pittsburgh and Rutgers, is slated to play for the U.S. under-19 national team against Canada in the seventh annual International Bowl next Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Switching gears. Downingtown East offensive tackle Mike Clark, who originally committed to Maryland and then reopened his recruitment, pledged Saturday to play at Syracuse while on an official visit.
The 6-8, 280-pounder said he did not "hit it off well" with new Maryland coach D.J. Durkin and his staff. "I didn't see it as the same program that I previously did," he said. "It just didn't feel the same."
Of new Syracuse coach Dino Babers, who was formerly at Bowling Green, Clark said: "He's a great guy, super honest, very likable. He has an infectious personality."
Clark, of Exton, picked up a scholarship offer from Rutgers on Friday.
Services for coach. Funeral arrangements are set for teacher and football coach Vince McAneney, 86, who died Wednesday.
A product of La Salle High (Class of 1947) and West Chester University (1953), McAneney's teams at West Catholic (1957-64), Cherry Hill West (1967-69), and Pennsauken (1970-94) won a total of 244 games.
Viewings will be held Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Christ Our Light Church, 402 Kings Highway, Cherry Hill.
Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Christ Our Light Church.
McAneney, who was a two-way back at La Salle, guided West Catholic to a Catholic League title in 1962.
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