Jermaine Grace talks Recruiting

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Cameron Underwood

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As you may have seen in the post introducing me to the CanesInSight team, I work at Miramar High School. Today, I had the chance to speak to one of the highest rated players on the Patriots’ roster: Linebacker Jermaine "Country" Grace. Here’s what the 4 star prospect had to say about his recruiting process, and how the Canes fit into the picture.

Underwood: Tell me how your recruiting is shaping up at this point.
Grace: Right now, UM and Tennessee are in the lead in my top 5. I’m still looking for other 3, but should have them soon. Being in Tennessee (for a camp) was fun for me. Being in other places, meeting new people and seeing new things is awesome. I want to visit other places, further places, and see how the environments are, and find out if they’re for me.

Underwood: Miami is an ACC school. Tennessee is an SEC school. Are you looking to stay in the ACC/SEC area, or might you be looking west, a la 2012 Miramar graduate Marrell Jackson, who ended up at Hawai’i?
Grace: SEC is a conference I want to visit. You play great competition, and they have great teams all over. If it’s not an SEC team, I’ll probably stay ACC. That's where I'm really looking right now.

Underwood: So you want to be somewhere that plays in Miami on a regular basis?
Grace: Yeah, that’s pretty big to me.

Underwood: Ok. Well, you’ve already mentioned Miami, what other ACC schools are recruiting you?
Grace: Florida State has been talking to me a lot. A couple others too.

Underwood: Now, with Malcolm Lewis, Tracy Howard, and all the South Florida guys being at the U now, is that a factor in choosing your collegiate destination?
Grace: It’s a big draw, seeing those guys there at the U. I grew up with them, played with them for 7 or 8 years. If I go to Miami, Tracy can help me learn the defense, and hopefully I can go there and have the same kind of impact that he’s having as a true freshman.

Underwood: Will you be attending UM senior day this weekend?
Grace:Yeah, I’ll be going there. Coaches have been trying to get me to take an unofficial visit to see Tracy and Malcolm in practice for a while, but it just hasn’t worked out yet. I’m excited, and I’ll be there on time for Senior Day.

Underwood: You mentioned playing as a freshman is important to you. Is it a deal breaker?
Grace: It matters, but it’s not everything. If the coaches redshirt me, I’ll use that year to focus on academics, and continue to get bigger, faster, and stronger so when I come back I can start. Whatever I have to do, that’s fine. I know I’m a hard worker. I’ll show the coaches that I am focused, and earn my way on the field.

Underwood: You get a lot of mail from a lot of Schools. What makes a school fall off your list?
Grace: Things like what’s happening at Penn State. They’ve been in the news almost every day, and it’s pretty much all bad news. That’s just a lot of drama, a lot of stuff going on right now. I don’t think that would be the place for me.

Underwood: Speaking of drama, the threat of sanctions is looming at Miami. If the NCAA comes down harsh, would that eliminate the Canes for you?
Grace: Yeah, I see what you mean. But, here’s the difference between the Penn State situation and whatever might happen to the U: Penn State has never been through anything like this. They have never had sanctions, and had to recover. Miami has. That shows me that even if the NCAA took scholarships, or whatever, Miami has a plan, and they will recover. So for me, that actually is a good thing. They know how to handle the pressure, and come back even stronger.

Underwood: Thanks for the time Country.
Grace: No problem


That's what Jermaine Grace had to say. What say you, Canes fans?
 
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Grace: Yeah, I see what you mean. But, here’s the difference between the Penn State situation and whatever might happen to the U: Penn State has never been through anything like this. They have never had sanctions, and had to recover. Miami has. That shows me that even if the NCAA took scholarships, or whatever, Miami has a plan, and they will recover. So for me, that actually is a good thing. They know how to handle the pressure, and come back even stronger.

Smart kid and like his thought process with the sanctions. I like the kid so I hope we have room.
 
Underwood: Speaking of drama, the threat of sanctions is looming at Miami. If the NCAA comes down harsh, would that eliminate the Canes for you?
Grace: Yeah, I see what you mean. But, here’s the difference between the Penn State situation and whatever might happen to the U: Penn State has never been through anything like this. They have never had sanctions, and had to recover. Miami has. That shows me that even if the NCAA took scholarships, or whatever, Miami has a plan, and they will recover. So for me, that actually is a good thing. They know how to handle the pressure, and come back even stronger.

Money quote, Cameron. This guy has more perspective than some of our fans.

Love this kid as a prospect.
 
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Thanks gentlemen. He came out of NOWHERE with that quote. Absolute gold. I'm excited to see where he can take Miramar this season.
 
Kid sounds smart with a good head on his shoulders.

Also, love the nickname. Country-4 stars.
 
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How is Grace's football intelligence game-to-game? He looks like Sean Spence in the highlights.
 
Thanks gentlemen. He came out of NOWHERE with that quote. Absolute gold. I'm excited to see where he can take Miramar this season.

Thanks for the Insight.

Let me extend an invitation for you to visit us in the West Endzone for a welcome party in your honor. W'ell have cookies and milk later tonight.

TOODLES
 
D$, Grace is very football savvy. He knows the game very well, and uses his knowledge to get into position to make plays on a regular basis. Our new QB said at practice just the other day that he doesn't even like to throw to Country's side of the field during 7-on-7 drills because he knows every route right from the snap, and is always making life difficult for the offense.
 
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Good stuff. Grace + Thomas would be the perfect South Florida LB package... Gotta ask -- why "Country"?
 
Good stuff. Grace + Thomas would be the perfect South Florida LB package... Gotta ask -- why "Country"?

i think cuz he was always bigger..(taller) than most playing on his little league teams(He's been playing with Tray and them since optomist)...and they called em "Big Country"......i swear every school in south florida has a kid they call "big country" or something of that nature.
 
Great interview and to be honest, only someone who really loves Miami would come at it like that.

Can't wait to see him put on the U helmet.
 
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Him and Thomas would be perfect. That would make Perryman, Kirby, Blue, Grace and Thomas. I probably missed someone too. Great interview. I hope he's a Cane.
 
One of my favorite recruits. A future 2nd or 3rd round draft pick.
 
Great interview Cam. Can't wait to see this kid suit up and go through U-Tough.
 
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