Ajamu, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder, gave a verbal commitment Saturday to Oregon State, the most recent program to extend the Shelton native a scholarship after a sizzling summer on the camps and combine circuit around the Northwest.
Ajamu hit several college coaches’ radars starting in June at the Northwest Elite Football Camp, earning team MVP honors at the camp. His first scholarship offer came from Wyoming, soon followed by Portland State, Nevada, and most recently, Oregon State.
During his junior season for the Highclimbers last fall, Ajamu caught 27 passes for 341 yards, earning first-team all-4A Narrows League honors. Shelton finished 2-8 overall in 2011. Should Ajamu honor his commitment with the Beavers and sign a letter of intent in February, he will become the first football player from Shelton to sign with an NCAA Division I program since 2006 when lineman Caleb Schlauderaff signed with Utah. Schlauderaff now plays for the New York Jets.
The high school football season begins Wednesday with the first day of practice across the state. Shelton’s season-opening game Aug. 31 is at home against Tumwater, which features defensive end Jaimie Bryant, an incoming senior who gave a verbal commitment to the University of Washington in April. The pair are the only South Sound players of the Class of 2013 to give verbal commitments to Division I programs.
