On the Rise: Jackson Memorial Grad Marcus Ademilola

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TOMS RIVER -  Marcus Ademilola had outstanding grades and multiple FCS offers when he finished his football career at Jackson Memorial last fall, but he was not satisfied because he believed he was capable of playing college football at the highest level.

Ademilola, a wide receiver/tight end, decided to take a gamble and play a prep season this fall at Wyoming Seminary in northeastern Pennsylvania because he has always thought he could eventually attract FBS offers. He turned down a sure thing in a situation that is usually a slam dunk for most players, and his belief in himself looks to soon be paying off with his dream. Prep school is usually for academic casualties or talented late bloomers, and Ademilola is clearly in the latter category.

"It's an extra year to get bigger, stronger and faster, which is the main reason I'm going to prep school,'' Ademilola said at Saturday's Shore's Best Camp at Riverwood Park in Toms River. "It will get me more exposure and allow more schools in the South and West Coast to get a look at me."

Still only 17 years old despite having graduated high school this month, Ademilola has put himself on the radar of several FBS programs with his camp performances so far this summer. He also has had a late growth spurt, going from 6-foot-3, 190 pounds at the end of the Jaguars' 8-3 season to 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds this summer. By next year, he hopes to be 6-6, 230 with a 40-yard dash time in the 4.5 range, which would make him a high-level prospect as a tight end.

"This summer is all about getting faster,'' he said. "Last year I ran a 4.66, and already this summer I ran a 4.52 at Rutgers."

He has already received interest from Rutgers, Temple, Stanford, Florida, Tennessee and other schools that plan to track him at Wyoming Seminary. On Saturday, he went one-on-one in several receiving drills against Barnegat senior linebacker Manny Bowen, who recently committed to Penn State.

"The Shore is underrated, and he's a talented guy who hasn't gotten the looks he should get,'' Bowen said. "He ran a 4.52 already at his size. When he goes to the next level they'll just pack more muscle on him, and he'll keep getting better."

"He's going to Penn State and maybe one day I'll see him in the Big Ten,'' Ademilola said about Bowen. "It was great going out and competing against him today."

Ademilola was an All-Class A South selection at wide receiver by the coaches in the fall, finishing with 22 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns in a run-heavy offense that rolled up 2,500 yards on the ground, including 1,408 by senior tailback Khani Glover. He also had 37 tackles and 4 sacks while playing defensive end. Ademilola is hoping that playing in a more wide-open offense at Wyoming Seminary will be able to showcase his talents.

"It was more of a running offense (at Jackson), but the school I'm going to runs a spread offense, so that will be good,'' Ademilola said. "It was frustrating, but I'm a team player so whatever my coach wants me to do, I'll go do it. It's not all about me, and we did great at Jackson this year."

He isn't the last Ademilola to make an impact on the recruiting scene, either, as his younger brothers, twins Jayson and Justin, are highly-touted players from the incoming freshman class this fall. Both will be attending non-public power St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City.

As for Marcus, he has one more game representing Jackson Memorial, as he will be part of the Ocean County squad in the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic at Brick on July 17.

"I'm just looking to have fun, and then it will be all about getting better and getting ready for bigger things,'' he said.