Tag: Moussa Kane

2023 Safety Moussa Kane includes Oklahoma in his top 3 schools

The Oklahoma Sooners were included in the top 3 for 2023 safety Moussa Kane.

The Oklahoma Sooners may have lost one of their commitments in Ashton Cozart on Sunday evening, but they got some good news on the recruiting front as they made the top three for 2023 three-star safety Moussa Kane out of New Jersey.

Kane, a consensus three-star safety also included Duke and the Penn State Nittany Lions in his top three. He held an offer from Clemson as well from when Brent Venables was still the defensive coordinator. Stands to reason the Sooners have a great shot at landing the athletic safety from Blairstown.

Kane was a two-way player for Blair Academy, lining up as a wide receiver and at safety. On defense, he shows a good understanding of zone coverages and makes good breaks on the ball in the air. He does a good job sifting through the play in run support to attack the ball carrier. He arrives with force and wraps up when he tackles. On offense, he shows good athleticism and ball tracking, making plays in the air and after the catch. He knows what to do with the ball in his hands and exhibits solid speed.

Moussa Kane shared his thoughts on his top three with 247Sports and had this to say about Oklahoma:

“Coach (Brent) Venables has been recruiting me since I was a sophomore and he was at Clemson,” Kane told Brian Dohn of 247Sports. “Every time I saw him, you could see he has so much character and love for his program and the atmosphere in Oklahoma is great.”

“I’ve also started building a relationship with (cornerbacks) coach (Jay) Valai and (safeties coach Brandon) Hall,” he said. “I can tell they are high-intensity coaches that care about the players also.”

Currently On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the edge to Penn State, but with Clemson present in On3’s top three, and OU in Kane’s top three, one has to think the Sooners have a great chance to land [autotag]Moussa Kane[/autotag] to their 2023 recruiting class.

Moussa Kane’s Recruiting Profile

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Recruits react to weekend with Oklahoma on social media

What did recruits, coaches, and parents have to say via social media following Oklahoma’s latest recruiting weekend?

There are several themes coming out of Norman with every recruiting weekend and this past weekend was no different. Parents and recruits left from their visit with the Oklahoma Sooners with positive vibes and excited about what Brent Venables and his staff are building.

In the aftermath of Lincoln Riley’s abrupt departure for USC, the question became what would become of Oklahoma without the “chosen one.” As a recruiter, Brent Venables has answered the call and has the Oklahoma Sooners well positioned to build upon their 2022 recruiting class, which finished No. 8 in the nation, with a strong 2023 class as well.

Hosting one of two recruiting weekends in March aimed at the 2023 class, the Sooners welcomed players from across the country to show them everything the University of Oklahoma has to offer.

Will it lead to commitments? Only time will tell, but the Oklahoma Sooners continue to put themselves in a great spot on the recruiting trail. As recruits talk about the great time they had, it will open the door for OU’s coaches to get an opportunity with even more highly-rated recruits.

Here’s a look at some of the reactions from Oklahoma’s weekend visitors.

Sooners set to host an elite crop of talent this weekend; here’s who will be in attendance

After a highly successful Junior Day in January, the Sooners are set to host another one this weekend. Here’s who’s coming to Norman.

For the second time in the first full recruiting cycle of the Brent Venables era, the Oklahoma Sooners are set to host a massive recruiting event. The first Junior Day went well according to recruiting experts across the industry. It featured major names as the Sooners continue to establish their 2023 recruiting board under Brent Venables.

The first junior day took place in January and was pretty hefty in terms of the number of bodies on campus. This list may top the January one in size and sheer talent that will be in the building.

We’ve taken the liberty again of mapping out the confirmed visitors for this weekend.

Class of 2023

Four-star WR Jaquaize Pettaway

Four-star DL Jordan Renaud

Four-star OL Miles McVay

Four-star EDGE Colton Vasek

Four-star ATH Mikal Harrison-Pilot

Four-star DB Dijon Johnson

Four-star LB Derion Gullette

Four-star DL Edric Hill

Four-star OL Wilkin Formby

Three-star OL Joshua Bates (Oklahoma commit)

Three-star LB S’maje Burrell

Three-star ATH Moussa Kane

Three-star DB Jayden Bonsu

Three-star DB Landon Hale

Three-star DB Kaleb Spencer

Three-star ATH Samuel Omosigho

Four-star OL Cayden Green

Five-star RB Richard Young

On top of the juniors who dominate the list, the Sooners have a few 2024 sophomore visitors who will be in attendance. Of course for the Sooners, they would never turn down the chance to have a recruit on campus no matter their classification.

Class of 2024

DL Williams Nwaneri

Four-star ATH KJ Bolden

Four-star DL Nigel Smith

For Oklahoma, this is another opportunity to re-establish this program’s identity under Venables. For all of the talk about what type of culture he wants, Venables and his staff get that opportunity to show what it means to have OUDNA and what Norman can offer the next generation of Sooners.

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Catch up with a flurry of February offers for Oklahoma Sooners Football

Oklahoma has sent out plenty of offers over the past several weeks. Here’s a look at who the Sooners have targeted.

With national signing day officially in the rearview, Oklahoma has turned its focus to the 2023 and 2024 classes for the most part.

OU has four commits in the 2023 recruiting class, good for No. 15 nationally and third in the Big 12 conference according to 247Sports. That list includes quarterback Jackson Arnold, wide receiver Ashton Cozart, offensive lineman Joshua Bates and athlete Erik McCarty.

Here’s a look at who the Sooners have sent out offers to over the past several weeks.

2023 New York ATH on Clemson interest : ‘I’m still their guy’

This priority target in the 2023 recruiting class has recently been in contact with Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed. Dabo Swinney also spoke with one of the coaches of Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) three-star athlete Moussa Kane and passed …

This priority target in the 2023 recruiting class has recently been in contact with Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed.

Dabo Swinney also spoke with one of the coaches of Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) three-star athlete Moussa Kane and passed along the message that the Tigers are still highly interested in him.

“For someone of his caliber and someone who has won multiple national championships to think highly of me, that means a lot,” Kane said of Swinney.

Kane spoke with Reed earlier this month. He extended an invitation for him to attend the program’s Elite Junior Day on Jan. 29, but, unfortunately, Kane won’t be able to attend. In the meantime, he is vying to make a return visit to Clemson sometime this spring.

“They still want me to come down,” he said. “I’m still their guy. They’re still showing the same amount of love.”

Even though it was now-former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who extended Kane his offer this past summer, Reed has since served as his primary recruiter. 

Kane previously indicated that Venables leaving for Oklahoma wouldn’t affect his recruitment or the way he felt about the Tigers. We now know that Reed had opportunities to leave this offseason, but chose to stay at Clemson.

That resonated with Kane.

“I wasn’t too shocked,” he said. “I got to meet Coach Reed in person. I’ve seen the type of guy he is. I’ve seen the types of guys that he wants to bring in. Seeing all that, it’s not a shock that a lot of his DBs have accomplished something.”

As far as his recruitment is concerned, Kane is keeping his options wide open. In all honesty, Kane would like to be committed prior to his senior season, but it’s not something he’s going to rush into. He wants to be sure about his decision, especially when considering just how coaching changes transpired this offseason.

“I know I’m a good football player,” Kane said, “but also education is really important, especially in my family. Ever since I was a kid, my parents have been drilling that education is what you really need. Sports is the way I’m using to get that education. What I’m looking for is a school that has great education too, and then I’m also looking at football.”

Kane just finished his junior season, which was his first time playing football in nearly two years. The first time he got back on the field, he was a little rusty in the beginning, but he eventually settled in. He kind of wished they had a longer season because he found his flow a bit later in the season.

On film, he was able to show his man-coverage skills, ball skills and his high football acumen. Because Kane was primarily playing safety he wasn’t able to press as much, which a lot of schools think is one of his best attributes as a cornerback.

For Kane, it was a “great feeling” to be named Mid Atlantic Prep League first-team. It made all the hard work he put in worth it.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Talented New York athlete felt ‘wanted’ during return visit to Clemson

A talented prospect out of the state of New York left Clemson very impressed after his return visit to Death Valley last weekend. Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) three-star athlete Moussa Kane, a class of 2023 recruit, was back on campus as an …

A talented prospect out of the state of New York left Clemson very impressed after his return visit to Death Valley last weekend.

Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) three-star athlete Moussa Kane, a class of 2023 recruit, was back on campus as an unofficial visitor to take in the Tigers’ 48-27 victory over then-No. 10 Wake Forest last Saturday.

“I liked it a lot,” Kane told The Clemson Insider. “That was my first time back there since the camp. I felt like I was really welcomed and I felt a lot of love.”

What was the overall highlight of his first Clemson game day experience?

“I would say watching everyone go down the hill,” Kane said. “It was pretty exciting seeing Dabo run down the hill for the first time in real life. I liked that. Also, being in the locker room after the win and see how excited they was.”

It was nice for Kane, who was offered by Brent Venables this past summer at the Dabo Swinney Camp, to see Clemson’s defensive coordinator again, along with cornerbacks coach Mike Reed.

“It was nice seeing them,” he said. “I finally got to talk to Coach Swinney. We didn’t talk for too long. I introduced myself. He introduced himself. It was nice for us to finally meet each other.”

According to Kane, Clemson’s coaching staff was impressed with his size. They thought he added some weight since this past June. Even though he was just there, the Tigers would like for Kane to make it back to The Valley for Junior Day. Right now, he plans on being there.

“I feel like I’m wanted there,” Kane said.

Last Saturday’s game against Wake Forest finally presented Kane the opportunity to watch Clemson.

“I think the way they utilize their cornerbacks is similar to how I like to play,” he said. “I think that’s a good thing. I haven’t been keeping up with them too much because my games are on Saturday, but I’m pretty sure the defense has been balling out all season and last Saturday was just a testimony to that.”

Kane has been high on Clemson since they took a chance on him and presented him with that coveted scholarship offer. His return visit definitely put things into perspective, as far as his recruitment is concerned.

“It made things more clear,” Kane said, “just seeing how important I am to them.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

New York ATH’s relationship with Venables, Reed ‘getting stronger’ each day

Moussa Kane has been feeling the love from Clemson and its coaches over the past month. The Clemson Insider checked back in with the talented New York athlete, who plays for Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) regarding what he’s been hearing from …

Moussa Kane has been feeling the love from Clemson and its coaches over the past month.

The Clemson Insider checked back in with the talented New York athlete, who plays for Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) regarding what he’s been hearing from Brent Venables and Mike Reed since they’ve been able to contact him directly.

“I’ve been mainly talking to Coach Venables and Coach Reed,” Kane told TCI. “They send me a lot of graphics and stuff. Sometimes, they ask me how I’m playing or like how I feel before going into a game. We’ve just been chatting it up a little bit.”

How has Kane’s relationship with Clemson’s defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach, respectively, progressed since Sept. 1?

“It’s been getting stronger day by day,” Kane said. “I really like both Coach Venables and Coach Reed. They’re really good people.”

Kane said he was planning on getting to a game down in The Valley, but one of his bye weeks at Blair Academy is about to get flipped. He’s not sure how that will work itself out, but he’s hopeful he can get to a game sometime this fall.

What’s it about Clemson that has just stood out to Kane so far?

“That day I was there, I was with big-time coaches, Coach Venables and Coach Reed,” he said. “I was with high-end guys the whole day. They were taking the whole day, just talking with me, while I’m in the room with the No. 1 receiver in the nation, Brandon Inniss. A bunch of high-end dudes and he’s spending his time talking with me. At that point, I was like a no star.”

Since that point, Kane has seen his recruitment take off. After receiving the coveted Clemson offer, he picked up offers from Rutgers, Penn State, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Ole Miss and Temple.

“It means a lot because they had faith in me,” Kane said regarding his recruitment taking off, following being offered by Clemson. “They were one of the first places that had faith in me, thinking that I could really play at that high-end level.”

Kane has been on one other game-day visit this season. He was in attendance for Penn State’s 38-17 win over Villanova in Happy Valley on Saturday, Sept. 25.

“I’m really just focused on winning right now,” he added. “I’m gonna handle all the recruiting stuff after the season.”

This is Kane’s first time playing in two years.

“All I want to do is be out there and fly around to the ball,” Kane said. “I think I’ve been doing that pretty well, always around the ball when I’m on defense, getting the ball in my hands when I’m on offense, and making plays.”

Kane is 90% sure he’s going to play cornerback in college. 

While he’s usually playing his games at Blair Academy around the same time Clemson kicks off on Saturdays, Kane has had a chance to catch some highlights of the Tigers defensively.

“From the clips I’ve seen, I see that their linebackers are really physical,” he said. “Their whole defense is excellent. Their corners are physical and really know how to play the ball.”

Kane ranks as the No. 24 athlete and No. 7 overall prospect in the state of New Jersey in the 2023 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

New York athlete surprised by timing of Clemson offer

Moussa Kane’s just a kid from New York. An elite athlete from New Jersey’s Blair Academy, Kane (6-1, 180) made his way down to Tiger Town this summer and earned himself a coveted Clemson offer. Kane recently caught up with The Clemson Insider …

Moussa Kane’s just a kid from New York.

An elite athlete from New Jersey’s Blair Academy, Kane (6-1, 180) made his way down to Tiger Town this summer and earned himself a coveted Clemson offer.

Kane recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding that fateful offer and where he’s at with his current recruitment.

Going back to when Clemson offered Kane, he established that he was already kind of tired. It was a physically draining day, he participated in both the morning and afternoon sessions of the Dabo Swinney Camp and hung around afterward. 

It was around 9:30 p.m. when Brent Venables had some good news.

“As soon as it happened, I had a moment,” Kane said. “It was like a real moment of joy. I was in one of the massage chairs, so Coach Venables told me that they offered me and I was literally stuck inside a chair, trying to get out and celebrate with everybody.”

Kane was surprised that he got the offer that early, but he wasn’t surprised he got the offer. 

He first saw rising juniors get Clemson offers on June 1. Kane knew he was going to Swinney Camp on June 5, so he thought there was a chance, but wasn’t going to dwell on it. 

“I went to the camp. I performed really, really well in both practices,” he said. “Came back from a really bad bloody nose, came back. Guarded a lot of receivers, won a lot of reps.”

According to Kane, what surprised Mike Reed the most was his ability to break forward. With Kane’s size and his length, Clemson’s cornerbacks coach said that it’s really unnormal for somebody of his stature to be able to break that easily and that explosively. 

“I’m definitely not afraid to tackle. I think I play with high energy,” Kane said when asked to describe his play style.” You’ll see me running sideline-to-sideline, trying to make some plays. I got pretty good ball skills. I believe my I.Q. is pretty high. I want to be around the ball a lot.”

Kane is, of course, listed as an athlete by several recruiting services. For his junior season, since he wants to be more involved, Kane’s going to be playing more safety. On the offensive spectrum, Kane’s going to be playing some wide receiver and running back.

College teams are mostly looking at Kane as a defensive back. Though, after this season, he’s hoping that he’ll be looked at both as a running back and receiver, now that he’ll be able to put his work at those positions on film.

However, Kane said that he will be going to college as a defensive back.

He believes that versatility will give him an upper hand at the collegiate level.

“Yes, because I believe that I can play both positions (cornerback and safety) at the next level,” Kane said. “Because I’m so versatile that makes me much more valuable to any team I choose to go to.”

Kane has one simple goal in mind for this season.

He wants to win. Any way he can get it, he just wants to help Blair Academy win some games and then some this year.

What is Kane looking for in a school at the next level?

“I want to make sure, first and foremost, that the coach that’s recruiting me is going to be there when I get there,” he said. “Also, a very important factor is what I want to major in. I’m not sure what I want to major in yet, but once I do, how good is that education system? Also, who can best prepare me to play at the next level? Which is the NFL, CFL, or wherever I choose.”

As far as Kane’s recruitment is concerned, he’s going to talk to plenty of coaches throughout the season and whatnot, but he’s gonna die it down a bit because he wants to focus on his season.

Right now, Kane is planning on making it down to Clemson for a game this season, but he’s trying to figure out a mutual date that works best for both parties and what game would be the best to go down for.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!