Name: Oluwole Betiku Jr.Position: OLB
Class: Freshman
Size: 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
Age: 19
High School: Serra (Gardena, CA)
Game: Betiku, who moved to the United States from Lagos, Nigeria, in 2013, is still learning many of the intricacies of American football, but he is an exceptional athlete with a motor to find the football. After arriving in the spring, he used the extra practices to learn the technique and fundamentals that will enable him to tap into his physical strengths on the field. At a deep position group, he is pushing for time behind sophomore Porter Gustin.
Prep Career: Betiku played two years of high school football, earning Prep Star All-American Dream Team, Max Preps All-American first team, Cal-Hi Sports State Defensive Player of the Year and Maxwell Club National Player of the Year finalist honors during his senior year at Serra. Before Serra, he attended Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, but did not play football.
Clay Helton on Betiku: "Wole is coming on. I mean, if you look at him from Day 1 to right now, it's like night and day. It's like taking a baby deer and all of the sudden he's grown into an older person now. He's doing some good things."
Fun Fact: Betiku came to America after impressing coaches at a Nigerian football camp so much (despite having never played before) that they found him a host family in the United States. Three-time Pro Bowler LaVar Arrington became his legal guardian.
Here is Betiku Jr. on his goals as a Trojan and more:
