Interview with East Ridge Minnesota Class of 2016 ATH Otumos Payemanu

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Making a switch from a school in one state to another school in a different state for all the right reasons put Class of 2016 athlete Otumos Payemanu right back at square one. The silver lining is the jump in playing classification thus the perception that the quality of opponent is better going further with college recruiters but Payemanu is still in the process of proving his worth to college recruiters but kind of starting all over again.

In 2014, Payemanu was a do-everything playmaker for Athens Drive. He led the Raleigh (North Carolina) squad in passing yards with 1,138 yards and 11 touchdowns and was second on the team in rushing yards with 525 finding the end zone two more times. Trouble is the 5’9”, 180 pound, athlete is a wide receiver.

The play clock on Payemanu’s high school career is winding down and he can feel it. Hoping for an opportunity to strut his stuff on the outside, a change in locations came about when his mom transferred jobs from North Carolina to Minnesota putting Payemanu in line to catch passes from Class of 2016 Oregon Ducks quarterback commit Seth Green. Trouble is Green had to move and is now throwing passes at Texas powerhouse Allen High School. When the smoke on Green’s transfer cleared, Payemanu was right back under center being a team player first before putting his needs above everyone else.

The football gods may soon smile on Payemanu delivering a few offers from the many schools showing interest. The schools that could be on the verge of extending an offer include Iowa State, Northern Iowa, North Carolina Charlotte, North Dakota State, South Dakota, Wyoming, and a handful of Division-II programs. One offer was put on Payemanu’s table in 2013 after his sophomore year by Navy.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Otumos to get his thoughts on the Raptors 5-1 start and how the team looks going into the back-half of their season. I also got a recruiting update from the versatile recruit.

Interview

Otumos, going from North Carolina to Minnesota seems like a big move. What brought on the move?

“Mostly my mom’s job. We used to live in Minnesota before and we came back.”

Last season for Athens Drive you did a little bit of everything lining up at quarterback as a dual-threat and on the outside at wide receiver. What was it like for you to be that big of a primary weapon for your team?

“Last year we had a senior quarterback who was a backup my sophomore year, he’d play quarterback when I would play receiver. When I would go into the game to play quarterback we would run read option, so I ran and passed the ball. I basically played quarterback the entire time and then later in the game when we were up I’d play receiver. Sometimes in different situations depending on where we were on the field I’d line up at receiver. He was more of a passer and I was more of a runner. I’d go out as a receiver in different situations.”

What positions did you play as a sophomore?

“My sophomore year I played quarterback in the Wildcat but I mainly played wide receiver my sophomore year.”

How has the transition been for you going from North Carolina back to Minnesota?

“I came to East Ridge to play with Seth Green and Jojo Garcia (DT – Minnesota commit). They’re both highly recruited kids in Minnesota. Garcia is the No. 1 D-tackle in Minnesota and Seth was the No. 1 quarterback. Unfortunately Seth’s dad had to move because of his job. He’ in the military and a helicopter pilot. I came to play receiver with Seth. He was the quarterback at East Ridge but his dad had to move and so they left. I had experience at quarterback last year so they put me at the quarterback spot. So I’ve been playing quarterback this year.”

Seth is down in Texas now right?

“Yeah, he’s at Allen (High School).”

The Raptors are off to a 5-1 start, in your opinion how does the team looking going forward for a run into the playoffs?

“We’re looking pretty solid. We talk to a lot of reporters and they’re telling us we look like one of the best in the state. We have a lot of good guys on our team like our running back (Connor Mohs), he’s getting recruited by about 15-20. We have four linebackers being recruited. All four of them are really good and run track. They’re two-sport athletes getting recruited by different schools. We have a receiver getting recruited too and one of our DBs (defensive backs) is getting recruited too. We have basically our entire O-line from last year back and they’re all about 6’3”- 6’4”, 230 and up. We have a good linebacker core, our DBs are good, and we have a good receiver, a good running back, and me at quarterback.

“We’re looking pretty solid. It’s a lot of new guys together. Our first game together we did not have a lot of team chemistry (21-7 loss to Lakeville North). Everyone just played individually but throughout the season we’ve been getting better. You can tell by our stats and our scores. We’re winning the game with all three phases of the game not just one part of the team doing something. We probably have the best kicker in the state in Grant Ryerse (Class of 2017). He has offers form Minnesota and Washington, teams like that. Our special teams unit is pretty good too.”

What are your strengths on the field as a quarterback?

“Just being a playmaker and rushing, we do run a lot. Our coach is always telling me “just be you be a playmaker like you know your are and don’t force anything like passes. If you’re trying to get extra yards tuck the ball and hold it and don’t try to do anything that is not necessary. We always have other guys that can make plays. Don’t turn the ball over, play smart, and be a playmaker.”

What are your strengths on the field as a wide receiver?

“I catch everything that comes to me. I’ve been told that by scouts all summer at the various camps all summer that I’m a playmaker. I catch everything and in the open field I get a lot of yardage. I try to be as allusive as possible and quick.”

Your goals entering the season may have changed after Seth left for Texas, but what are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“Just try to play as long as possible and hopefully win state. That’s basically everyone’s goal and my goal since my freshman year. Find a way to win state by my senior year.”

What about personal goals? Your stat line goals may have changed as well since you are doing something unselfish for the team. Do you have any personal stat lines you are trying to achieve?

“On our team we have a commitment card that we fill out each week. My goal is always to not turn the ball over. That brings a big asset to the game. If you hold the ball the entire game you win. If you give the other team the ball then they have a chance at scoring and winning the game. My goal is to not turn the ball over and make use of it. I go all out every time I have the ball in my hands and go 100 percent every time.”

I like that response. I’m going to jump into recruiting. What schools are recruiting you right now? I know you have one offer from Navy but which schools are showing interest in you right now?

“Iowa State, Minnesota, UNC Charlotte, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, South Dakota State and a lot of D-II schools. I’ve been talking to a lot of coaches. They want to see me playing up here in Minnesota before they make a decision. They want to see how I go throughout the season. I guess, that’s what I’ve been told. They just want to see what all I do and how I play as a quarterback, and what I bring to the game before they make any offers. I’ve been talking to a lot of coaches. Its nerve racking because I don’t know what they’re thinking and they’re not telling me what’s going on. I don’t know if they’re going to offer me or not? I’m waiting for it and talking to a lot of schools.”

Unfortunately that is all you can do. There are a lot of talented players like yourself in the same boat that are right on the magical line no matter how well you do everything on and off the field. When you’ve talked to the different college coaches what are they telling you they like about your skill set?

“Mainly that I’m a playmaker. Last year I made some plays moving around at quarterback – the big thing for me playing quarterback is not to get sacked. I never been big into the stats like a lot of quarterbacks but that is one thing I don’t like and I don’t want to experience is that big hit on a sack. When I drop back I am very aware of what is going on. I move around in the pocket a lot and I work up the field to see if anyone is open or to see if I have anywhere to run. Me being a playmaker and me being explosive when I get to the outside so I can use my speed to get more yardage.”

You’ve mentioned your speed a couple of times. What is the best 40-yard dash that you have posted?

“This summer I ran a 4.52 at an Illinois camp but I ran a 4.48 with my trainer. I don’t know if you want to count the time with my trainer or not?”

What events did you participate in with track?

“I jumped in track, long and triple jump in track. I also did relays. My offer from Navy was for triple jump. My sophomore year I was third or fourth in the state. I jumped a 45.4 1/2.”

What one-day college camps did you go to this summer?

“I went to a lot. I went to Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and North Dakota State.”

Yeah you did. From a performance standpoint which camp was your best?

“Performance wise I think my best was probably Minnesota. The only problem I had at Minnesota was my 40 time was not as good. I talked to the coaches after and they said “they would have offered if my 40 times was better.” I think I ran a 4.6. Because of my size I need to run a better 40 than other guys. I they wanted me to run a 4.4 or a 4.5. My 40 time was not as good. I talked to all the coaches afterwards, they all really liked me. I caught all the passes and did what I had to do except for that one problem.

“The same thing happened at Iowa State. I had a great camp, met all the coaches, stayed after and talked to everyone, visited the school and saw everything but my 40 time was not as good during testing. I think I’m overthinking it when I run my 40 because I know so much depends on me having a good 40 time. Iowa State and Minnesota were my two best camps.”

When your time comes to choose a college to play for what will be the main factors that will influence that decision?

“When I breakdown the team, I look at how long the coaches been there? I’ve always built relationships with my coaches, they’re like family. I’ve always done that since like third grade when I started playing football. I’ve always had relationships with every coach. I’ve always been the kid that stays after and does stuff. I call my coaches and talk about plays. We go out to eat and build that relationship. I think it’s important to have a relationship with everybody on the team.

“This year we had a coaching change at East Ridge. Our new coach, with what he’s doing, our team chemistry is getting better throughout the season. All summer we’ve all hung out as a team. We do everything as a team, all 60 guys. We hang out and go over to each other’s houses and stuff like that. There are no clicks like offense and defense. Everyone is together. We have a great chemistry. Everyone is all mixed in together. I think that is really important to build that relationship throughout the season.

“I know if at some point during the season when we have a big game and we are down, no one will point a finger at you saying “this is your fault” because so-and-so does not like you. With that chemistry there is no infighting. Everyone is doing their job. I feel like that is a big issue in recruiting. It is important to have a good relationship with your coaches.”

Do you have any planned visits coming up?

“I have Northern Iowa scheduled two weeks from now and I have a lot of D-II schools contacting me. I’ll probably go to Minnesota soon and I’ll probably go to Iowa State soon and Northern Iowa too. I don’t have anything set up now but I’ve been talking to coaches that are wanting me to come down for a couple of days.”

Otumos, thanks for your time today and good luck on the gridiron and on the recruiting trail.

“Thanks.”

Click link to see Otumos Payemanu’s 2015 mid-season highlight reel.

Photo credit: TSS Photography; No. 1 Otumos Payemanu breaks free for East Ridge.

Photo credit: scout.com; Otumos Payemanu at an Illinois camp.

Photo credit: TSS Photography; No. 1 Otumos Payemanu.