Heritage defensive tackle grabs first offer

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Littleton (Colo.) Heritage junior defensive tackle Frank Umu has been flying a little under the recruiting radar, but that's about to change for the 6-foot-4, 280-pound in-state prospect.

Interest in Umu is picking up after a junior season where he recorded 65 total tackles while fighting through double teams. He's ready to go camping and is training hard to prepare for the next level.

"Right now Weber State, CU, Wyoming, Air Force, Washington, South Dakota State, I got a few invites from Oregon and Utah to go out to their camps," Umu said of interest.

Umu has been in contact with the Buffs, but to this point there has been no mention of a CU offer. He said coaches are looking forward to evaluating him at camp on June 1.

"Toby Neinas," Umu said on his contact with CU. "[He said] a lot about going to camps and putting it all into the camps, show them what I've got."

The Buffs had Umu up to Boulder for a recent junior day visit and for their spring game. Umu said he enjoyed his time on campus.

"Surprisingly I haven't really heard anything from CSU," he said of in-state interest. "I went up to [CU's] junior day and spring game. It was really cool to be with all the coaches and players, to get to see all their facilities. The facilities are really nice."

CU promoted its facilities plans and the upgrades sound good to this recruit.

"They were talking about it at the spring game, it's going to be awesome. They're new indoor practice field and all that," Umu said.

Umu wasn't born in Colorado - California - but he has been in the state since he was 2 years old. The senior-to-be said colleges see him at defensive tackle and it's his favorite position.

"Just being able to move around free and just being able to beat up linemen," Umu said on playing DT.

Umu checked one goal off his recruiting to-do list recently by obtaining his first offer. The first one has him looking for more.

"I never thought, since I started, I'd be where I'm at now. I played both ways until my sophomore year, playing tackle and nose guard. I got my first offer a few weeks ago from Weber State. It was great, it was amazing, especially being able to tell my dad," Umu said.

Defensive tackle is position that is needed in every school's yearly recruiting class and with camps more offers are likely to follow for Umu.

"I know the CU and Wyoming ones are for sure. We're thinking about trying to go out to Washington for their camp and I think I'm going to the Air Force camp and CSU camp," he said on camping.

Umu started training with former Buff Matt McChesney at his gym in February. He said he could already tell a difference.

"It's awesome, it's great. I started in February; I can already feel the change in my physicality and stuff. It gets really intense in there. Sam Jones going to ASU, Alec Ruth, Ryan Cummings, a lot of Valor guys go there," Umu said.

The future college defender is on a meal plan in an effort to get his weight to 300 pounds. He's also lifting, where he benches 300, squats 450 and power cleans 300.

McChesney speaks highly of his new pupil.

"Frank Umu from Heritage is a big, nasty S.O.B. Since day one, Frank walking in here four months ago, I have never seen anybody transform from what people thought he was to what he could be quicker. And he has another year before he leaves for college," McChesney told Buffstampede.com editor Adam Munsterteiger.

"So in that year I only expect him to get bigger, stronger and even faster. But his thing is the mental side. He now understands the way it is to play defensive line football. He understands that pursuit is the No. 1 thing, he understands how to read a key, he understands how to be violent with his hands. He understands that if he goes 100 percent all the time, never stops his feet, no one will block him. No one. So I expect huge things out of Frank. I really think the sky is the limit for him."

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