Miami signs CB Romanas Frederique from local powerhouse: "There’s going to be a big step"
Miami wasn’t always viewed as the favorite to sign Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas three-star cornerback Romanas “OJ” Frederique, but in the final month of his recruitment the 6-foot-1, 175-pound DB had no reservations about his decision.
Frederique officially became a Hurricane today, confirmed signing his UM papers nearly six full months after committing to Miami. He didn’t land significant attention from the Canes’ coaching staff in the traditional way. Frederique stole the attention of Miami’s defensive staff at a prospect camp in mid-June where he locked down literally every receiver he faced in one-on-one competition. He scheduled his official visit with Miami days later and flipped to the Hurricanes from West Virginia by the end of the month.
Frederique was a member of the Miami Gardens Ravens youth league football team, an elite youth football team that produced 2024 talents like No. 1 overall prospect Jeremiah Smith, WRs Joshisa Trader and Chance Robinson and DB Ryan Mack.
The Hurricanes’ connections with those around him, as well as the opportunity to remain close to home, potentially compete for early playing time and walk into an environment filled with local South Florida football stars he was already familiar with, were all attractive to Frederique. He kept the door narrowly cracked open in his recruitment for much of the fall before eventually fully locking in with the Canes in the final month before signing day.
“We talk in a group chat every day,” Frederique told CaneSport in early December. “I’m in contact with (Miami’s staff) every day: coach (Mario) Cristobal, coach (Jahmile) Addae, coach (Lance) Guidry, all of them.”
Miami’s progress this season and opportunities for freshmen to compete for playing time also attracted Frederique. He told CaneSport earlier this month he felt the Hurricanes “took a big step forward this year” and likes the direction Miami is trending. His faith in Cristobal also played a factor.
Frederique will be a summer enrollee.
“Like coach Cristobal said, over the years, they’re going to improve,” Frederique said. “After the class of 2024 comes, I feel like there’s going to be a big step (forward). …The 2024 and 2025 (recruiting classes) are going to be a problem (for other teams).”
CaneSport’s Take
Frederique literally played his way to a Miami offer and earned every bit of attention he received from the Hurricanes’ staff, quickly turning into a lockdown cornerback at St. Thomas Aquinas. His length and athleticism helped him become one of the premiere South Florida cornerbacks in this year’s class, and the Hurricanes could be welcoming a future star to Coral Gables.
