Ufomba Kamalu, a member of the 2010 Class AAAA runner-up football team, has verbally committed to the University of Miami. “I really liked the weather and the diversity of the people at Miami,” Kamalu said.
According to Panther defensive line coach Dennis Bogumill, Kamalu had been getting looks from Auburn, West Virginia, Houston, and Miami during the two years he played at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. Kamalu flew to Miami on Jan. 19-20 to meet with the coaching staff and to tell them his decision.
“They were talking to me at the same time Auburn was,” Kamalu said, “but Auburn seemed to be dragging their feet, so I went on the visit to Miami.”
Kamalu played defensive end and was a standout pass rusher for the Panthers, Bogumill said. In the Junior College National Championship, Kamalu won defensive player of the game with five sacks and 11 tackles. The defensive coaches at Butler knew the coaches at Miami, so that helped with the recruiting, Kamalu said.
“He is a great guy on and off the field,” former Panther teammate and Georgia Tech running back Zach Laskey said. “Although it won’t be on the same team, I’m excited to get to play with him a couple more times.” Miami will play Georgia Tech at least two times in the regular season since they are both in the ACC.
Kamalu will sign with the Hurricanes on Wednesday, Feb. 6, and will play in the fall.
In other football news, the 2012 football team held its annual postseason banquet, hosted by the Starr’s Mill Touchdown Club, at the New Hope South campus on Jan. 14.
The winners of the Coaches Awards were announced. The Offensive MVP went to senior receiver Hayden Beyer; Defensive MVP, senior nose tackle Evan Krug; Golden Helmet Award, senior linebacker Luke Runyan; Iron Panther Award, senior punter Grant Aasen; Captains Awards, seniors Timothy Roberts, Nick Petry, Garrison Elliott, Beyer, and Joe Vinson; Academic Award, junior receiver Patrick Mullins; Offensive Scout Team Award, junior guard Ben Dorsey; and Defensive Scout Team Award, freshman linebacker Ryan Spiecha.