JUCO defensive back transfer Mori Bamba announced his arrival at BYU on Saturday. Bamba committed to the Cougars in June over competing offers from multiple of his P5 schools like Utah and Auburn. Bamba was not on the fall camp roster as he cleared the last hurdle to reach BYU, but he is expected to be on the BYU roster this fall. This is not uncommon in JUCO transfers. It usually takes a little longer for JUCO players to square up and be ready to join.
Listed at 6’3 and 190 pounds, Bamba has three years left to qualify and is eligible to play this season.
Bamba quickly added depth to the cornerback and most importantly, with BYU entering the Big 12 and seniors like D’Angelo Mandell and Kaleb Hayes graduating, he is expected to join the roster in the future. That is.
Baba has a very high ceiling. At his 6’3 length, Tyler recently ran a dash of 4.34 yards at his junior college camp.
Credit: BYU Pictures
You can read more about Bamba’s journey to Provo below.
BYU and the Big 12
BYU will be participating in BYU’s Big 12. BYU’s affiliation with the Big 12 also influenced BYU’s decision. “It’s always been my dream,” Bamba said in a previous interview about the opportunity to play in the Power Five conference. I got the size, speed, mentality and work ethic for it, so I’m excited and ready.”
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Molly’s Road to Tyler Junior College
During his preparations in Wisconsin, Bamba was a dual-sport athlete. He played as a diminutive defensive back on the football team and also ran the track, which was his main focus. Senior football At the start of his season, he weighed only 130 pounds, with measurements he was 5’11 to 6’0. Bamba’s size and circumstances (playing with few teams throwing football) limited his recruiting opportunities in football, so he attended Division III school and ran the track.
“I was always on the track team,” Bamba said in high school. “Then I slowed down the growth spurt.” After his senior year in high school, Bamba grew to 6’3 while maintaining his speed. Ultimately, Molly chose to step off the track and give soccer another try. Bamba found an opportunity at her ASA College.
Bamba entered the rotation at ASA College during the 2021 season. “For the fall 2021 season, I got to see more of the field and it all came together…I was thrown into a game against the Iowa Westerns…that was the beginning of the journey. and started playing.”
Following the 2021 season, Bamba began looking for another junior college to give himself the best chance of being hired. He was invited to his March Conditioning camp to show off his athletic prowess. At Tyler JC, Bamba recorded his 4.34-yard dash. After demonstrating his physical abilities, he started practicing with the soccer team.
In late April, the Tyler Junior College Football Program hired former BYU defensive back Tanner Jacobson as head coach. Jacobson served as the link between Bamba and BYU. Of the role Jacobson played in getting in touch with BYU, Bamba said, “Yeah, that was a big part of it.” I was there,” Bamba said.
Bamba began attracting the attention of college coaches earlier this year. Eventually, BYU cornerback coach Giannalo Guilford offered Bamba a scholarship at BYU. Bamba had competing offers from Austin Pea and Incarnate Ward College at the time, but BYU was the first of his FBS schools to give Bamba an opportunity. Utah followed suit, offering Bamba a few days later.
Bamba officially visited Utah and BYU. Days after his BYU visit, he committed to the Cougars.
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