As we proceed with the SOTU Awards, we give a Freshman All-American his flowers: CB O.J. Frederique, Rookie of the 12 months!
A 3-star recruit who began his HSFB profession at Deerfield Seaside (FL), Frederique transferred to nationwide powerhouse Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas for his senior season. Upon his arrival with the perennial championship program, Frederique shortly elevated himself to the highest of his place group, even with different, extra extremely ranked gamers already there.
Miami received Frederique’s dedication and thought that they had a gem of a participant. It is a time the place the interior analysis was a lot, MUCH increased than that of recruiting websites who comply with and rank HSFB gamers. Miami was very bullish on Frederique, and have been excited to get him on campus.
Upon his arrival on campus in Could (St. Thomas college students aren’t allowed to graduate early attributable to their tutorial necessities and buildings), Frederique instantly began getting rave opinions from Miami coaches and gamers alike. With a rebuilding secondary for the 2024 season, it turned shortly clear that Frederique could be within the dialog for important taking part in time as a real freshman.
After a stellar exhibiting in fall camp, Frederique was a prime of the rotation participant at cornerback. Although he didn’t begin a sport till Week 3 towards Ball State, Frederique was a well-recognized face on the sector in each sport Miami performed in 2024. His mixture of top, arm size, athleticism, and ability have been wanted on the Miami protection that different smart struggled within the secondary.
Whereas almost each different participant int he secondary was getting bombed or lacking tackles sport after sport, Frederique was a strong and constant performer by way of the season. His stellar protection dissuaded opposing groups from even throwing in his course, searching for out the straightforward to use targets that have been in lots of different locations in Miami’s defensive backfield.
Miami’s OJ Frederique, a real frosh final season, noticed the second-lowest % of targets per snap in protection of any ACC nook final season (trailing solely FSU’s Azareye’h Thomas) at 9.1%. For the season Frederique allowed 11 completions on 32 targets for 156 yards and 1 TD.
— ️♈️ (@ADavidHaleJoint) January 29, 2025
Even with these numbers, Frederique wasn’t excellent in 2024. He struggled within the common season finale at Syracuse, with their bodily receivers profitable on the catch level repeatedly. Even with that being the case, Frederique was nonetheless the standout participant in Miami’s secondary general.
For his freshman season, Frederique completed with 30 tackles, 1 TFL, 7 PBUs, and 1 interception. If you mix that with the above-embedded stat that Frederique was among the many lowest-targeted cross defender within the convention, and thereby the bottom focused participant on Miami’s protection, you possibly can clearly see the instant and elite impression he had in his first season in school.
For his efforts, Frederique was named the runner-up for ACC Rookie of the 12 months. Clemson LB Sammy Brown received that award. Frederique was additionally named honorable point out All-ACC for his efficiency within the 2024 season.
Although there have been different younger gamers who made impacts for Miami in 2024 — gamers like RB Jordan Lyle, JUCO switch OT Markel Bell, and S Zaquan Patterson — Frederique had the most important and most notable impression by far.
With every part that Frederique confirmed within the 2024 season, the sky is the restrict for what he can present sooner or later, and the participant he can turn out to be down the road.
Congrats, O.J.! You deserve it!
Go Canes