Shelton tight end commits to OSU

Shelton High School tight end David Ajamu entered this summer as an unknown to many college coaches, but he will enter his senior year having committed to a Pacific-12 Conference football program.

Ajamu, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder, gave an oral commitment Saturday to Oregon State, the most recent program to extend the Shelton player a scholarship offer after his sizzling summer at camps and combines around the Northwest.

Ajamu hit several college coaches’ radar starting in June at the Northwest Elite Football Camp, where he earned team MVP honors.

His first scholarship offer came from Wyoming and was soon followed by offers from Portland State, Nevada and, most recently, OSU.

During his junior season for the Highclimbers, Ajamu caught 27 passes for 341 yards, earning first-team all-4A Narrows League honors at tight end. Shelton finished 2-8 overall in 2011.

If Ajamu honors his commitment with the Beavers and signs 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 offensive lineman Caleb Schlauderaff signed with Utah. Schlauderaff now plays for the New York Jets.

The high school football season gets under way Wednesday with the first day of practice across the state.

Shelton opens its season Aug. 31 is at home against Tumwater, which features defensive end Jaimie Bryant, a senior who gave an oral commitment to the University of Washington in April.

Ajamu and Bryant are the first South Sound players in the Class of 2013 to give oral commitments to NCAA Division I programs.