I finally caught up with Philadelphia DT Karamo Dioubate last night to do a Q&A.
He's not as talkative as most recruits, so it's not as in-depth as most of the other Q&A's I've done over the past year, but I still wanted to make sure I post something on Dioubate.
Snyder - First question is the most obvious one. What was it about Penn State that put them ahead of everyone else? What were those two or three things that really put PSU ahead of the other schools?
Dioubate - There are so many things. The main thing that I was looking for at all of these schools was just how comfortable I felt. Not just with the coaches and the other players, but the entire school. So, the campus and things like that. The whole package. I just felt more comfortable at Penn State than any other school. The coaches were also very honest with me. They recruited me really hard and they always were open and honest with me. Also, the education there is excellent and that was very important for my mom. Another thing is the players that the coaches have brought in. The class before me was really good and my class is going to be really good, so knowing that they have all of these great players was another thing I really liked.
Snyder - How much did Penn State's proximity to home weigh into this decision?
Dioubate - That's nice, but it was really just all about how comfortable I was. No matter how far away that school is to home, I just wanted to find a place that I felt comfortable at. That was the main thing. It is nice that Penn State isn't far so my family can come see me, but if I was more comfortable at Ohio State or wherever, I would've went there. The coaches and the players at Penn State made me feel the most comfortable.
Snyder - How close was Ohio State and Rutgers? Was this a decision that you went back and forth on? Or was Penn State always the leader?
Dioubate - It was definitely difficult. Whenever you're making a major decision like this, you have to weigh all the pros and cons. Ohio State is a great program. They just won a national championship. It doesn't get any better than that. Rutgers is also on the rise. They had a great first season in the Big Ten. But, like I said, I was always more comfortable at Penn State. That was the most important thing.
Snyder - So, did you wrestle with this decision in the week leading up to it? Or was Penn State always the clear favorite?
Dioubate - Recently, they were the school that I liked the most. So, in the past couple weeks, I knew that Penn State was my leader, but I did go back and forth at times. Back in the spring, I liked all of these schools. But, from talking to Coach Spencer and Coach Gattis and all the coaches, I knew those guys really cared about me and want to see me succeed.
Snyder - I wanted to ask about both Gattis and Spencer. Which coach were you talking with the most? How did they impact your recruitment?
Dioubate - I talked to both of them a lot. It was really important to get to know Coach Spencer because he's my position coach. I'll be with him all the time. I think they're both good people and my mom believes that, too.
Snyder - I want to ask about your game then and specifically your strengths and weaknesses. What are maybe two or three things you really excel at? Traits that just come naturally to you. Then, what are maybe two or three things that you really want to improve on this upcoming season?
Dioubate - I think my explosiveness is important. A lot of coaches have told me that I'm really quick off the ball and I believe that. My ability to beat the offensive lineman off the snap is something I think I'm good at. Also, I think that, as the game goes on, I'm able to stay at 100 percent. With other guys, they kind of wear down, but I think I'm still able to give it my all as the game goes. So, I guess you would say that's my conditioning. I just want to improve on my overall game then.
Snyder - You've mentioned to me many times that education was very important to you and your mother. Why is that? Also, do you know what you want to major in?
Dioubate - Yeah, that was very important. Penn State really cares about that stuff. They want us to be successful on the field and academically. My mother always wanted to make sure that I got a great education and I get my college degree and I know that the PSU coaches are going to stay on top of me and also help me when I need help, just things like that. Every school says they care about that, and most of them do, but Penn State stresses that more than most, I think. That was really big.
He's not as talkative as most recruits, so it's not as in-depth as most of the other Q&A's I've done over the past year, but I still wanted to make sure I post something on Dioubate.
Snyder - First question is the most obvious one. What was it about Penn State that put them ahead of everyone else? What were those two or three things that really put PSU ahead of the other schools?
Dioubate - There are so many things. The main thing that I was looking for at all of these schools was just how comfortable I felt. Not just with the coaches and the other players, but the entire school. So, the campus and things like that. The whole package. I just felt more comfortable at Penn State than any other school. The coaches were also very honest with me. They recruited me really hard and they always were open and honest with me. Also, the education there is excellent and that was very important for my mom. Another thing is the players that the coaches have brought in. The class before me was really good and my class is going to be really good, so knowing that they have all of these great players was another thing I really liked.
Snyder - How much did Penn State's proximity to home weigh into this decision?
Dioubate - That's nice, but it was really just all about how comfortable I was. No matter how far away that school is to home, I just wanted to find a place that I felt comfortable at. That was the main thing. It is nice that Penn State isn't far so my family can come see me, but if I was more comfortable at Ohio State or wherever, I would've went there. The coaches and the players at Penn State made me feel the most comfortable.
Snyder - How close was Ohio State and Rutgers? Was this a decision that you went back and forth on? Or was Penn State always the leader?
Dioubate - It was definitely difficult. Whenever you're making a major decision like this, you have to weigh all the pros and cons. Ohio State is a great program. They just won a national championship. It doesn't get any better than that. Rutgers is also on the rise. They had a great first season in the Big Ten. But, like I said, I was always more comfortable at Penn State. That was the most important thing.
Snyder - So, did you wrestle with this decision in the week leading up to it? Or was Penn State always the clear favorite?
Dioubate - Recently, they were the school that I liked the most. So, in the past couple weeks, I knew that Penn State was my leader, but I did go back and forth at times. Back in the spring, I liked all of these schools. But, from talking to Coach Spencer and Coach Gattis and all the coaches, I knew those guys really cared about me and want to see me succeed.
Snyder - I wanted to ask about both Gattis and Spencer. Which coach were you talking with the most? How did they impact your recruitment?
Dioubate - I talked to both of them a lot. It was really important to get to know Coach Spencer because he's my position coach. I'll be with him all the time. I think they're both good people and my mom believes that, too.
Snyder - I want to ask about your game then and specifically your strengths and weaknesses. What are maybe two or three things you really excel at? Traits that just come naturally to you. Then, what are maybe two or three things that you really want to improve on this upcoming season?
Dioubate - I think my explosiveness is important. A lot of coaches have told me that I'm really quick off the ball and I believe that. My ability to beat the offensive lineman off the snap is something I think I'm good at. Also, I think that, as the game goes on, I'm able to stay at 100 percent. With other guys, they kind of wear down, but I think I'm still able to give it my all as the game goes. So, I guess you would say that's my conditioning. I just want to improve on my overall game then.
Snyder - You've mentioned to me many times that education was very important to you and your mother. Why is that? Also, do you know what you want to major in?
Dioubate - Yeah, that was very important. Penn State really cares about that stuff. They want us to be successful on the field and academically. My mother always wanted to make sure that I got a great education and I get my college degree and I know that the PSU coaches are going to stay on top of me and also help me when I need help, just things like that. Every school says they care about that, and most of them do, but Penn State stresses that more than most, I think. That was really big.
