As Salpointe Catholic’s football stars picked their schools, one by one, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats die-hards seemed to say (and post) the same thing.
“Wish ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ had him.â€
“Can’t believe he picked Texas over staying home.â€
“Why Ohio State instead of starting a legacy at the UA?â€
Five-star running back Bijan Robinson (Texas), four-star safety Lathan Ransom (Ohio State), three-star offensive lineman Bruno Fina (UCLA) and defensive back Charlie Raetzman (Minot State) signed and faxed their national letters of intent on Wednesday. Their formal commitments came on the first day of the early signing period.
Making things worse for UA fans, the Salpointe standouts held a signing-day lunch party at Frog & Firkin, located a minute’s walk west of campus.
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Ransom, one of the top defensive backs in the country for 2020, committed to play for a program that is back in the College Football Playoff for the third time and had two finalists in the Heisman Trophy race.
Ransom could’ve easily picked ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and stepped in as a favorite to start at one of the safety positions next season. Like the UA, Ohio State is looking for a new defensive coordinator after Jeff Hafley accepted the Boston College head coaching position last week.
But despite a Hafley-sized hole in OSU’s coaching staff, Ransom stuck to his verbal commitment and said he’ll be patient when it comes to playing time.
“If I’m not starting, I’m gonna try and get as much playing time as possible. If it’s with a special teams role, that’s all that matters,†said Ransom, who will play in next month’s All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
Ransom uses current OSU cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, who came in as a five-star recruit in 2017, as a blueprint for his future career as a Buckeye.
“He didn’t play until the end of his sophomore year and then started his whole junior year and is about to be a top 10 pick. Sometimes you gotta wait your time and I’m not afraid to do that,†said Ransom.
Plus, OSU head coach Ryan Day and the state of the program was too convincing to pass.
“When I met him, he had my whole family bought in on Ohio State and I can’t wait to get up there,†Ransom said.
Last year at this time, Fina’s only scholarship offer was from Abilene Christian. Now, the 6-foot-4-inch, 245-pound three-star guard, and son of former UA standout and NFL lineman John Fina, is bound for UCLA.
Fina had offers from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, USC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State and Boston College, but he selected his future based on his checklist.
“Academics, being in a great city where there is opportunity, playing good football and being around the coaches. But really the biggest thing when I think of UCLA is how comfortable I am with the coaches, with the message, the players and what I’m going to be working towards,†Fina said.
Fina said he felt the added pressure from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ans and UA fans, in part because of his father’s legacy. John Fina starred at the UA and played in the NFL.
“Dealing with something as big as your future, it’s up to the kid to decide what’s best for them. Every once in a while, there was a guy who would say, ‘Oh, you’re so stupid for not going to your (father’s) alma mater, how can you abandon your town like this?’†Bruno Fina said.
“It doesn’t matter … I’m 100% confident that I made the right decision.â€
Then there’s Robinson.
Robinson finished his historic Salpointe Catholic career as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s all-time big-school (Class 4A, 5A, 6A) rushing leader and amassed over 7,000 rushing yards and 114 touchdowns, which is a state record.
Halfway through this, Robinson passed his idol and mentor Ka’Deem Carey as Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s all-time leading rusher.
Robinson also cleaned house on Player of the Year awards.
He won ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gatorade Player of the Year honors, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Football Foundation Frank Kush Player of the Year honors and he became the first player in state history to be a two-time Ed Doherty Award winner.
Now, Robinson will become the first player in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ history to play for the Longhorns.
Robinson sent his NLI to Austin, but said ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was on his mind — and it always will be.
“I know people have high expectations of me and I just want to go in and make the city proud,†he said.
A bar known for hosting UA events was the venue for a signing party that didn’t have a Block “A†or a Wildcat in sight, but it was the start of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s best signing their lives away to be in a position to put ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on the map in Los Angeles, Columbus, Austin — and Minot, North Dakota.
“Representing ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is huge for me, because ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has supported me all my life,†Robinson said. “I never came from anywhere else and I never moved anywhere. But that support ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has brought to me and me bringing it to Texas, I can help ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ rise on the map and let the whole country know what ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is about.
“I’m working hard to make ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ the biggest place it could be in the future.â€
