![\"\"](\"http:\/\/t2.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:fOhSAWNzOH905M:http:\/\/api.ning.com\/files\/Hw0n8kVDS4a-d5wCnOckeMap7xvvcsI6tooFTweRZa9NU3x1GPPv9rJkVq0qV8nR8F7Bk7SNPdkQYp9yLoiSW-FzyZ1*nuew\/sumler.jpg\" "\\"tacoi")
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.<\/p>\nIn 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.<\/p>\n
Tacoi Sumler is no ordinary guy and no ordinary wide receiver.\u00a0 Even the name is out of the ordinary.\u00a0 Have you met any Tacoi’s lately?\u00a0 So when it’s time to perform,\u00a0 Sumler’s stays consistent and does things that no ordinary football player can do.\u00a0 I witnessed this first hand at last month’s Under Armour Combine at the Miami Dolphin’s training facility.\u00a0 With many of the athletes on hand putting up average 40 yard times,\u00a0 in steps Sumler to heat up the field turf in a blistering 4.33 laser time.\u00a0\u00a0 Sumler didn’t stop there putting up strong numbers in the 3-cone, vertical and standing broad jump.<\/p>\n
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),\u00a0 college football programs come calling.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 With that said,\u00a0 Sumler wants more.\u00a0 When asked what offers he’s looking forward to,\u00a0 Sumler quickly responded.<\/p>\n
“Florida and Cal,”\u00a0 then adding “Cal is a come up type of program that should definitely be watched.\u00a0 I like the way they used Desean Jackson when he was there.”<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 Sumler,\u00a0 once again displays his failure to be ordinary.<\/p>\n
“Distance is not an issue for me.\u00a0 I’ll go wherever is best for me,”\u00a0 Sumler says. “I have family out there and usually take trips out there and stay with them.\u00a0 I love it out there.”<\/p>\n
Despite being on the look out for those two schools,\u00a0 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,\u00a0 the Miami Hurricanes.\u00a0 Once a Gulliver Prep Raider,\u00a0 Sumler was within a stone’s throw from the University of Miami campus every day.<\/p>\n
“Growing up a Miami boy,\u00a0 I’ve always admired the program but\u00a0 I am still being recruited by them and have yet to been offered.”<\/p>\n
Sumler’s exploits and skills landed him a spot on the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team,\u00a0 a high profile 7-on-7 team consisting of the best of the best in South Florida area high school talent.\u00a0 The team,\u00a0 run by local sports enthusiast Brett Goetz,\u00a0 features some of the top players in the class of 2011 of which Sumler is one of them.\u00a0 The team travels to Tampa this weekend to do battle in the annual University of South Florida 7-on-7 tournament.\u00a0\u00a0 It’s a chance for Sumler to give fans, opposing players and scouts a preview of what he will do in 2010.<\/p>\n
Sumler’s transfer from Gulliver Prep to Columbus means no more spread attack which is very friendly for wide outs.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 Sumler see’s this as a great opportunity.<\/p>\n
“That’ll just make me a complete receiver,” Sumler said.\u00a0 “I’ll just have to make plays when I do get the ball and I get to show my blocking skills.”<\/p>\n
How’s that for an unordinary response from a wide receiver?<\/p>\n