London to Norman: Inside one recruit’s 5,000-mile official see

• Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff WriterSep 6, 2023, 09:24 AM ET

  Close

  • ESPN personnel writer
  • Signed up with ESPN in 2011
  • Finished from Central Michigan

Offending lineman recruit Daniel Akinkunmi stayed up all night prior to his main check out to see the Oklahoma Sooners this previous weekend.It wasn’t because he could not sleep from anticipation or excitement, though. It ran out necessity. Akinkunmi was taking a trip from Loughborough, England, to Oklahoma in what would total up to 20 hours of travel time and 4,562 miles logged in one day to see the Sooners personally.”I have a technique at any time I take a trip to the states. The night before, I do not sleep,”Akinkunmi informed ESPN. “I stay up until my flight, then sleep a couple hours on my flight and attempt to stay awake to get used to the time modification. That assists me out so when I pertain to the U.S. I will not be jet lagged. “Akinkunmi, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman from the NFL Academy in England, is a three-star prospect in 2024 and has actually gathered scholarship offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Duke, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina, Ole Miss and a handful of other significant programs. Due to the fact that of where he lives, his recruitment has had some unique twists, like costs 20 hours simply to take a main go to. pic.twitter.com/5EGtwSIXhs!.?.!— 3 ⭐ OL Daniel Akinkunmi(@official_Grind4)August 31

, 2023 We here OU@OU_Football @OU_CoachB @CoachVenables #sooner #boomersooner #BOOMER #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/dkcEK4xDIp!.?.!— 3 ⭐ OL Daniel Akinkunmi(@official_Grind4)September

1, 2023
His journey to Oklahoma was his second main go to, with the very first going to Baylor, however his seventh time in the United States overall.”The NFL Academy takes us on trips to the states each year,”Akinkunmi said. “The NFL prepares a week or two-week long journey, they select a couple of people from the NFL Academy that they think have that talent. Then we go to numerous camp circuits and numerous unofficial sees.”The annual trips that typically occur in the spring. This season, they likewise had three games they bet American teams.They bet IMG Academy university white group on June 10 in Loughborough, and on August 25, they played Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast in Dublin. They will play Erasmus Hall on Oct. 10

, too, in London. The Academy has European teenagers from the age of 16 to 19 attend their school and program, where they have three years to discover football. Akinkunmi is 18-years-old and now trying to find a new location to play football.For his check out to see the Sooners, his day begun by driving with his mother three hours to the airport to make their 11:45 a.m. flight.Editor’s Picks 2 Related”From Atlanta, we needed to wait 3 hours, then Atlanta to Oklahoma City was about an hour and a half. Then we had a car pick us up and it was another 20 to 25-minute drive to the hotel in Norman,”Akinkunmi stated.” We left Thursday early morning our time and arrived Thursday night around 9 p.m. My mama was absolutely exhausted, as quickly as we got there she went to sleep.”When they got to the hotel room, Akinkunmi and his mom were amazed at what was waiting on

them. Oklahoma

branded cards and letters were scattered throughout the hotel room together with treats, cookies and a cake with”OU “composed on it to look like a poker chip that coach Brent Venables provides to employees. Venables gives the prospects a poker chip and, when they’re all set to devote to Oklahoma, they give it back as a sign that they are “All in, “which is a mantra for Venables and his personnel.”

It was incredible, “Akinkunmi stated.”The method they embellished the room, the treat table, it was simply remarkable.”Because he lives so far away, he usually needs to initiate contact with coaches through social media, exchange numbers and after that try to find ways to interact regularly regardless of a hefty time distinction. That can be difficult and has actually taken time to handle when he can develop relationships and the number of times he can actually get in touch with a coach.”Because I don’t have a U.S. number yet, we really FaceTime since that’s done through WiFi,”Akinkunmi stated.” So, typically I FaceTime audio call them and in some cases I need to stay up until 1 a.m. my time to talk to coaches.”Being on the Oklahoma check out and seeing the coaches personally, it makes it that much easier for him and his mom to get an idea of who the coaches are and how they engage with their players. Both Akinkunmi and his mom came away pleased with Venables and his personnel and what they had the ability to show him on the journey. From the arena to jerseys, coaches ‘offices, the locker room and the facility, Akinkunmi was impressed by the journey.”It was unbelievable. At any time I satisfy a coach personally,” Akinkunmi stated. “The FaceTime call … it’s never ever the like seeing someone in person and actually speaking with them in person. Just seeing them personally is a big relief understanding they’re really real and making that connection even more powerful.”Room trip @OU_Football pic.twitter.com/3jbNjlrdck!.?.!— 3 ⭐ OL Daniel Akinkunmi( @official_Grind4)September 1, 2023 First time having wagu pic.twitter.com/4AY6fgB7QZ!.?.!— 3 ⭐ OL Daniel Akinkunmi(@official_Grind4 )September 3, 2023 He jokes that he understands the coaches are real, but it is reassuring knowing the scholarship is real, and he isn’t being catfished by somebody pretending to be a coach in the United States.The NCAA changed a guideline to allow potential customers an unrestricted variety of main visits, so Akinkunmi could theoretically view as numerous schools as he ‘d like. The 20-hour travel days wind up being fun, albeit tiring, however Akinkunmi has actually taken his last check out and will make his decision on Oct. 12. He has a top five of Oklahoma, the Baylor Bears, Miami Hurricanes, Ole Miss Rebels and Clemson Tigers, and will have a couple of more FaceTime connections and

long travel days.For one weekend, Akinkunmi got to experience whatever he wanted to and states it was amazing travel scenarios deserved it. If nothing else, he got to attempt Wagyu steak for the very first time and the excitement in his voice explaining the steak might be felt through the phone.”

It was remarkable,” Akinkunmi said.”It was a 12-ounce steak, and I’m simply happy I wasn’t the one that had to spend for it. “