Traore commits during Cane official visit, enrolling for Summer B
The Hurricanes have a new commitment.
And he’ll be on campus sooner rather than later.
Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College OG Ousman Traore has committed during his UM official visit this weekend and will enroll for Summer B at UM June 30. He’s eligible to play right away, a big boost to the beleaguered offensive line group.
"I felt the vibe, it felt like family here," Traore said. "I was in the locker room, it was great. Eveyrone was great."
Traore actually committed to coaches on Thursday but kept it quiet until Friday morning when he gave the go-ahead to make it official.
"I committed last night - it was to coach (Butch) Barry," Traore said. I said `I'm trying to be a Cane, I committed to him. He was amazed, happy. He got fired up."
Traore has canceled other planned visits to LSU (which wanted him for 2020) and Florida (which was close to offering).
"I'm done," Traore said.
Traore was a full qualifier out of College Park (Ga.) Hapeville Charter with a 1275 SAT and 3.0 GPA - he went the JUCO route for one reason: To pick up major offers.
So when the Canes offered and set up his official visit for June 5-7, it was simply a case of him seeing what he wanted while he was on campus.
That happened.
“I’d never been to Miami,” Traore said. “Coach Barry, he’s great. They say to come in and just compete. Coach Barry is a pushing guy, is a good guy, wants the best out of me. He’ll push me, I know that. He keeps it real.”
A 6-3, 307-pounder, Traore will be in the mix to start at guard given the issues there.
“Miami, it’s legendary,” Traore said. “And Miami’s always been legendary.”
So what have the Canes landed in Traore?
His former high school coach, Winston Gordon, has helped guide him through the process.
“I’ve been talking with coach (Butch) Barry and (Eric) Hickson about him,” Gordon said. “They just like his speed, his power, for him to be as skillful as he is as a former soccer player.
“He’s a big massive kid, he’s raw. (Barry) loves the way he moves as a big guy, feels he’s aggressive enough to come in and contribute at Miami. He said he has some holes to fill and (Traore) can help do that. He’s played tackle but projects as a guard and has four years to play three. He’s eligible now, can play this season.”
Traore's goals as a Cane?
"I just want to come in, compete and work, just grow," he said. "They said to just come in and compete, and that's what I'll do."
CaneSport’s take
Traore might be a bit of a risk given he’s raw and didn’t have a ton of other major interest. But it’s a risk the Canes are willing to take given that if he pans out there’s a huge reward. The UM line play was not good last year or in the spring, so Traore will have every chance to come in and start from Day 1.