In any given year there are thousands of college football recruits itching for a chance at a scholarship. It’s easy to mix up names, schools and forget guys but not Miami Columbus High School’s newest addition.
Tacoi Sumler is no ordinary guy and no ordinary wide receiver. Even the name is out of the ordinary. Have you met any Tacoi’s lately? So when it’s time to perform, Sumler’s stays consistent and does things that no ordinary football player can do. I witnessed this first hand at last month’s Under Armour Combine at the Miami Dolphin’s training facility. With many of the athletes on hand putting up average 40 yard times, in steps Sumler to heat up the field turf in a blistering 4.33 laser time. Sumler didn’t stop there putting up strong numbers in the 3-cone, vertical and standing broad jump.
When you perform like Sumler does at combines and produce the way he produces on the field (over 1,400 yards and 27 TDs last two years), college football programs come calling. Sumler has fielded more scholarship offers than you can shake a stick at with notable programs like Florida St., Oregon, West Virginia, Tennessee and Auburn laying their cards on the table. With that said, Sumler wants more. When asked what offers he’s looking forward to, Sumler quickly responded.
“Florida and Cal,” then adding “Cal is a come up type of program that should definitely be watched. I like the way they used Desean Jackson when he was there.”
The common concern for West Coast programs when recruiting in the Sunshine State is the distance away from family and the possibility of home sickness. Sumler, once again displays his failure to be ordinary.
“Distance is not an issue for me. I’ll go wherever is best for me,” Sumler says. “I have family out there and usually take trips out there and stay with them. I love it out there.”
Despite being on the look out for those two schools, Sumler states that there is no leader in his mind and he will have a top 5 to 10 list after the Spring. Sumler also likes the local college in Coral Gables, the Miami Hurricanes. Once a Gulliver Prep Raider, Sumler was within a stone’s throw from the University of Miami campus every day.
“Growing up a Miami boy, I’ve always admired the program but I am still being recruited by them and have yet to been offered.”
Sumler’s exploits and skills landed him a spot on the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team, a high profile 7-on-7 team consisting of the best of the best in South Florida area high school talent. The team, run by local sports enthusiast Brett Goetz, features some of the top players in the class of 2011 of which Sumler is one of them. The team travels to Tampa this weekend to do battle in the annual University of South Florida 7-on-7 tournament. It’s a chance for Sumler to give fans, opposing players and scouts a preview of what he will do in 2010.
Sumler’s transfer from Gulliver Prep to Columbus means no more spread attack which is very friendly for wide outs. However, Sumler see’s this as a great opportunity.
“That’ll just make me a complete receiver,” Sumler said. “I’ll just have to make plays when I do get the ball and I get to show my blocking skills.”
How’s that for an unordinary response from a wide receiver?
View Tacoi Sumler’s highlight video at Gridironstuds.com, click here.
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