Jaheim Singletary talks decommitment, his new approach and the schools in play

After surprising some with his commitment to Ohio State over Florida January 2, Jacksonville (Fla.) Robert E. Lee cornerback Jaheim Singletary backed off that pledge August 1. The 6-foot-1, 170 pound defender stayed committed to the Buckeyes for almost eight months, but he is now one of the top uncommitted players in the country.

All looked to be going smooth with Ohio State through the end of winter and into the spring, but schools were not going to stop recruiting Singletary. The no. 37-ranked player in the country is a coveted cornerback and schools like Florida, Georgia and Miami continued to pursue him.

Once the ban on visits was lifted June 1, Singletary scheduled an official visit to Ohio State for June 25. He also took a couple of visits to Georgia (Official visit June 18) in June along with one to Florida and one to Miami.

Singletary had never been to Ohio, so the visit was going to tell him a lot about his feelings towards Ohio State.

That is where things changed.

“I love the coaches at Ohio State and it is a great school with great players, but the feeling there was just different,” said Singletary. “That is why visits are so important. The vibe at Ohio State just didn’t match me.

“I had that feeling in my gut before I left for the trip. I am not sure what it was, but I just didn’t have the feeling I needed to have on the visit. Before I left Columbus that I knew I was going to re-opened my recruitment.”

A new approach

With Singletary now being committed once, he has learned a lot about the recruiting process. He has thought about this decision for weeks, it has weighed on him heavily and he is looking at things a lot differently now.

“I really rushed through the process before,” said Singletary. “I did it all wrong. Just the way I looked at it was wrong. When I got the early offers, I was all about going on visits for photo shoots and all that. I wasn’t looking at what I needed to, to make a smart decision.

“I am a lot more mature now and I am thinking differently about it now. How I think about recruiting and committing is a lot different now than it was before.”

There is no timeline on the next decision for Singletary. He is going to slow things down though and see things clearly before committing to another school.

“I am not going to rush this at all. I am not sure when I will commit, but I know it will not be in August or anytime too soon. This is something I am really going to think hard about.”

Two schools at the top?

Ohio State is out and Singletary is uncommitted, so who is trending for the star in the Sunshine State?

Well he decommitted from Ohio State coming off a two day visit to Miami. He also visited Georgia twice in June. The Bulldogs and the Hurricanes are strong contenders.

“I had great visits to Georgia and Miami this summer,” said Singletary. “I loved both schools and so did my mom. My mom is a big part of this with me and she was very comfortable with the coaches at both schools. She loved the visits like I did.”

Singletary has a great connection with Miami’s Travaris Robinson. The two have been communicating for three years and he was a big part of the visit over the weekend.

“Me and T-Rob are so close. We just keep it real. I spent a lot of time with him at Miami and it was great. He connects with me and my mom.”

Robinson wasn’t the only coach showing Singletary attention in Coral Gables.

“When I arrived for the visit, about 30 coaches were at the door waiting for me to walk in. It was crazy. From T-Rob, to coach Manny Diaz to the graduate assistants — everyone was there.

“I talked to coach Diaz a lot on the visit, coach Mike Rumph showed a lot of love and I really had a great time. I was comfortable, I liked the school and I will be back at Miami.”

He plans to return to Athens as well.

“I don’t know how to describe Georgia, but I love the atmosphere and the environment there,” said Singletary. “The vibe felt right. My mom loved it too. It just had that big family vibe and I liked that a lot.”

Singletary also likes the staff at Georgia. Kirby Smart is a head coach with a defensive background and Singletary likes the staff under Smart.

“I do my homework on coaches and almost all of Georgia’s defensive staff has coached defensive backs before. From coach Smart to coach Addae to coach Lanning to coach Muschamp, so many of the coaches really know a lot about my position. I like that a lot.”

Outside of Georgia and Miami, Singletary said Florida is a school he could visit officially in the fall. As soon as the word spread on his decommitment Sunday, new schools started reaching out as well. Florida State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas A&M are some that contacted Singletary Sunday, so he still has a lot to think about with three of his five official visits still available.

No timeline

Singletary knew for some time that he was going to re-open his recruitment August 1, but looking ahead to his next commitment, he is not too sure.

He wants to do it when the time is right.

“I really have no idea when I will commit again,” said Singletary. “I know it won’t be soon, but I do not know how long it will be. Getting to games is very important, so I plan to do that first. I will just wait until I have that feeling and know for sure where I want to go.”

He has a plan for what he is looking for.

“I have to look outside of football as much as I look at the football side of it. I have to go where I have the best opportunities on and off the field. Looking at things for my life after football is important, so that will be big for me.

“I am searching for the right environment for me. I have to be comfortable living there. Being comfortable and being able to be myself will be key for me.”