Prep Charter's Dioubate taking his time with offers

Prep Charter two-way lineman Karamo Dioubate was hard to miss last season when wearing his orange, high-top cleats.

The 6-foot-4, 277-pounder's play on the field was just as flashy. He routinely made pancake blocks as an offensive tackle and posted a remarkable 23 sacks as a defensive lineman, according to team statistics.

With that kind of production, Dioubate, a junior whose family hails from Liberia, has emerged as one of the country's most sought-after prospects at defensive end.

The 17-year-old, a resident of Southwest Philly, has scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.

Dioubate, ranked as the No. 8 recruit in the country at his position by Rivals.com, recently visited Ohio State and met briefly with Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer.

"It was a good trip," the mammoth lineman said. "I talked to the coaches, watched the team practice for a little bit."

Joined by Prep Charter head coach David Hand, Dioubate, who was clocked at 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash at a Nike camp in New Jersey, has also taken unofficial visits to Penn State and Rutgers.

"I don't have a timetable when it comes to making a decision," he said. "I plan on taking all the official visits I'm allowed. Something could change, but that's my plan right now."

Dioubate was Inquirer second-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania on defense while helping Prep Charter go 10-1-1 overall and 4-0 in the Public League last season. The Huskies fell to Neumann-Goretti, 12-6, in the District 12 Class AA final.

"No one has a first step like him," Hand said. "He really explodes off the ball. It's freakish for a guy his size to have that speed."

Dioubate, Downingtown East tight end Cary Angeline, Imhotep Charter tight end Naseir Upshur, and Council Rock North quarterback Brandon McIlwain were four of nine Pennsylvania players nominated to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, set for Jan. 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Is one of Dioubate's goals to better last season's 23-sack total?

"I just do whatever I can to help the team," he said. "If I have to make a lot of sacks, I'll make a lot of sacks. If I have to make a lot of tackles, I'll make a lot of tackles."