Brad Ketron: Interview with LB Commit Jordan Futch

Published Jul 29, 2007

Interview with LB Commit Jordan Futch

CanesOverHere’s Brad Ketron chatted recently with recent Cane LB commit Jordan Futch. Here's how their conversation went:

Brad: Let’s talk about this upcoming season for you at Chaminade Madonna HS. What are your goals for the team’s season and your own statistical goals?

Jordan: My team’s season as a whole, our goal is always to be the best and win state. I think that’s the ultimate thing that you can do so that’s what we’re going for as a team. Me, personally: just to benefit my team any way I can. I’m not really looking at stats. I figure that if I play to the best of my ability like I know I can, that the stats will come and I will be a highly-ranked recruit.

Brad: Are you comfortable playing all three linebacker positions, or do you feel that when you come to Miami you’ll be strictly an outside linebacker?

Jordan: I’m pretty much comfortable playing all three positions. Coming from the outside, I can cover well and use my speed, or I can bulk up and go to the middle, stick some guys there. I could still cover tight ends from the middle, take on blocks well. Everyone questions my size, but I can do it. I’m really comfortable anywhere, I could put my hand down and play defensive line if I have to, I can play safety—that’s what I’m playing right now in our system. I can play wide receiver or tight end also, I’ve already talked to Coach Nix about that, and he said that we’ll see what happens when I get there. I’m not really worried about where I’m playing, it’s just playing.

Brad: You’ve been following this class so far, what’s your opinion on this class of 16 so far? Does this class signal a return to dominance for Miami, or is it just the beginning to build things up for dominance on down the road?

Jordan: I think it’s a little bit of both. This year’s class along with last year’s class is going to be great. Coach Shannon’s a great recruiter and he’s going out and getting guys to help us win. I think this year is going to be the stepping stone for next year. By the time my class gets there, we’re going to have guys step in and play right away because they can, their talent level is there to see the field right away. We’re all going to be the x-factors that are going to bring Miami back up to that NCAA standard that everyone wants to live up to. I think we’ve got all the essential tools to be the best.

Brad: Let’s get into some personal stuff man, what is your favorite song/artist right now?

Jordan: Probably Lil Wayne, “1000 Degrees”. I like that song a lot.

Brad: Okay, what’s your favorite food?

Jordan: Everything. I’m steak and potatoes man, myself.

Brad: You’ve got the 3 Jessicas – Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, or Jessica Simpson – which one’s the hottest?

Jordan: It’s gotta be the Fantastic Four’s Jessica Alba man!

Brad: Have you been a Canes fan all your life? Is that your team?

Jordan: That’s my team man. It’s like a birthright. My dad was a Canes fan, and he wasn’t even from Miami. Everybody in my family, aunts, uncles, are all Canes fans. Growing up around it I pretty much knew I wanted to be a Cane. All the press asking me where I was gonna go, people saying I should go up north, but I already knew I wanted to keep it home, come to Miami.

Brad: Who’s your favorite Cane of all time and why?

Jordan: Favorite Cane…umm…that’s a hard one because there’s so many. Being that I’m a defensive player I’ve always liked Sean Taylor. He was a hitter, he got after it, was always the hardest worker on the field, he was always the x-factor that made plays to help us win, so I’ve gotta say Sean Taylor.

Brad: Okay, what about non-Canes past or present do you try to pattern your game after?

Jordan: I’d say Shawne Merriman. He has great intensity, always around the ball, playing as hard as he can, always striving to be the best. He got caught with those steroids or whatever, but I don’t care—he’s the best.

Brad: I’ve got a theory - I want you to tell me if I’m right or wrong. You committed in early June, and after you committed, that’s when a lot of dominos started to fall. We got you, then Collier, Jacory, McCray, Buchanon, Robinson, Aldarius, and Marcus, so did you go out and do any recruiting yourself, get in anyone’s ear?

Jordan: (laughing) Yeah, yeah, yeah…I did a little something, but really we’re all friends down here and that’s what it came down to. You know, Jacory’s parents and mine were friends and know each other well. Yeah, I did talk to some guys though. I like to be surrounded by the best, because they can only make you better. I thought if we can get all of these guys, who can stop us?

Brad: Speaking of guys that you’re friends with, what can you tell us about Bo Reliford and Etienne Sabino? Are these guys going to be Canes in your opinion?

Jordan: In Sabino’s case, he’s telling me that he’s gonna be watching us, but I think he’s gonna wait and hold out a little bit longer. He wants to take some visits and look around, so I’m not really sure on Sabino. I can’t really tell you that of course because it’s his decision. Bo, I’m not really sure about either. I try to keep in contact with him and I’m not really sure if his offer’s still in place or not. He is a good tight end though and he’s only played one year of football.

Brad: Yeah, I like Bo, he seems like the type of tight end we need at The U – good hands, good blocker, very athletic.

Jordan: There are a lot of other players out there though, like the kid from Pennsylvania (Jonathan Baldwin), me and Jacory were both there during his visit, showed him around a little bit. Dwayne Allen too, from North Carolina. I’m still working on him and a couple of others. Myself, Jacory, all the other recruits, we’re all striving to get guys in with us. All the guys that are committed right now are recruiting other players from around the country just as well as we are.

Brad: I know you’re “the running back eater, the head hunter, and the human hit-stick”, do you have any more nicknames you want to let everyone know about?

Jordan: Man, I’m the running back eater, the heavy hitter, the head hunter, I’m the go-getta, I’m the x-man, the x-factor, I do what I can. I told everybody they wrote a song about me…(sings) Go-getta! (laughs).

Brad: That’s cool man—what about when you get to Miami, what are your goals for your freshman season?

Jordan: To make everyone else around me a better player. Anything to benefit the team, and help us win games. If it’s standing behind and playing scout team to make others better, that’s what I’ll do. If it’s helping someone in the weight room to get stronger, that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m just gonna go in with an open mind, and be a help to the team and the program.

Brad: What do you hope to accomplish for your career at Miami? How do you want to be remembered when people look back at your career as a Cane, what do you want them to say about you?

Jordan: I want them to say that guy right there was the hardest worker on the field. He was a big hitter, the hardest worker on the field, and he was always around the ball. He was always doing what he could to help the team, and he was a winner.

Brad: Are there any guys at Chaminade Madonna that Miami should be going after for this class or for future classes going forward? Who should we be watching out for?

Jordan: We just got two transfer students from Hollywood Hills HS, they’re the Wheeler brothers. One plays tight end, and I think he is gonna end up being a 5-star linebacker. And his brother -- you remember Michael Brewster? He’s just as big as him, just as athletic. I’m telling you, the kid runs something like a 4.9 forty too. There was a guy that just left Chaminade, Shane Gordon. He plays linebacker, fullback, he’ll be a great middle linebacker in someone’s system, he’s a great kid, great head on his shoulders, always around the ball, and he played in the state title game as a freshman. He started and was the leading tackler, so watch out for him. There’s another young guy by the name of Tim Waker, a wide receiver, I really like the kid. Watch out for him, he’s gonna have a lot of receiving yards this upcoming season.

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