Interview: 5-Star 2022 Florida CB/ATH Jaheim Singletary Talks Season and Recruiting Visits
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Watch any Wild Kingdom episode or a National Geographic segment on animals in the wild, we are taught that only the strong survive. When the 2018 season came around, Florida 6A quarterbacks thought it was a good idea to pick on Robert E. Lee High School freshman corner Jaheim Singletary; as true in nature, the strong prevailed. Singletary picked off seven passes last season working his way to MaxPreps All-American honors and five-star recruiting status with 19 offers on the table, and he is just scratching the surface of what he can do on the field.
Seven interceptions grabs one’s attention, but Singletary did more than just pick off passes. His stat line from a year ago included 27 stops, 24 solo, with two tackles for a loss, six passes broken up, and a fumble recovery. The now 6-2, 180-pound, defender is back at it but on both sides of the ball and a little bit of everywhere in the Generals’ secondary. Depending on the opponent’s style of play, Singletary can be found at corner covering a top receiver or at safety covering everything over the top or coming down the alley for a tackle. The coaching staff is using his speed, quickness, and athleticism on offense in a part-time role leading to three receptions for about 90 yards with three scores going up on the board.
In an RNG exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the nation’s best 2022 cornerback prospects learning about his growing skills and impressive recruiting process.
Interview
Jaheim, you had an amazing freshman season picking off seven passes showing 6A Florida quarterbacks what was up. How did you prepare for success in 2019 over the offseason?
“Over the offseason I worked hard every day. I wanted to get better. I set goals for myself to improve; I worked on improving my hips, getting quicker feet, and getting lateral faster.”
Your speed and quickness standout, what is the fastest timed run you’ve posted?
“At a South Carolina camp I ran a 4.59.”
The team is six games into the season, how has your overall game on defense improved this season?
“My tackling, my cover skills, and doing my assignments have all improved this season.”
What do you feel are the strengths to your game as a corner?
“The strengths to my game on defense are my tackling, ball skills, and attacking the ball.”
Looks like you are getting some time in at safety too. How is that rotation working?
“It depends on who we play. If we are going against a running team I am at safety or a passing team I’m at corner. I’m doing whatever my team needs me to do to win games.”
Given the opportunity, you are making the opposition pay when you line up on offense. How is the coaching staff utilizing your play-making skills on that side of the ball?
“They are sending me out on deep balls, doing some blocking, but mostly deep balls and in the red zone.”
What are college coaches telling you they love about your skills?
“They like my ball skills, discipline, that I am long, and that I am young and that I have time to get even better.”
Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?
“Alabama, Penn State, Clemson, Missouri, and Louisville.”
How many total offers do you have now?
“I have 19 offers.”
Singletary’s Offer Sheet (19): Auburn, Central Florida, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Oregon, Savannah State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Virginia Tech
Over the offseason into this fall, have you taken any unofficial visits?
“Yes, sir. I went to Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Washington, Oregon, and Florida.”
If you will, tell me about the Florida trip?
“It was really good. They showed a lot of interest in me. I liked it.”
And Georgia, how was your time in Athens?
“It was really good too. I liked the atmosphere there.”
Lastly, how about the Oregon visit. How did that go?
“It was good. I had never been that far away from home before. All of it was different there, but in a good way.”
Are you planning on visiting any other schools this fall?
“Yes, sir. I am going to Alabama on Nov. 9 for the LSU game and I plan on visiting Georgia Tech sometime soon.”
What has you excited about visiting No. 1 ranked Alabama?
“Alabama is my favorite school. I am ready to get out there and see what it is about.”
Nice. Back to football. The team just had a tough game against Ribault. Although that outcome was not in the Generals favor, how do you see the team bouncing back this week against Columbia?
“The loss makes us hungrier. The loss has taught us how to get better. We are back in the lab this week improving. We are ready to pull it off on Friday. We can’t let up this week and we have to go and get it.”
Last question. When the season ends, what goals do you want to achieve?
“My bar last year was seven interceptions and I got it. This season I want five or interceptions and five touchdowns on offense.”
Jaheim, I enjoyed doing the interview with you today. I hope you and the rest of the team close out the way you want this season.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Jaheim Singletary at Oregon and Florida