Thayer Academy Standout, MA's 1st 5-Star Recruit, Commits To Miami

BRAINTREE, MA — Samson Okunlola will be forever remembered in Massachusetts football lore. The Thayer Academy offensive lineman is the state's first-ever 5-star recruit, a distinction given to only the best high school football players in the country.

Now, he'll try to help bring glory back to one of college football's preeminent brands: The University of Miami.

Okunlola held an event at Thayer last week to announce his decision, which also featured consideration of other top programs like Alabama, Florida and Michigan State.

The overpowering offensive lineman, known locally by the name "Pancake Honcho", eventually made his decision by cutting into a stack of green and orange hotcakes.

According to 247 Sports, a premier recruiting publication, Okunlola is the third highest-rated offensive tackle in the country, and the 14th-best recruit at any position.

After his commitment to the Hurricanes, 247 shows Miami with the fourth-best recruiting class behind Georgia, Alabama and Texas for the 2023 season.

Listed at 6'5", and 305 lbs., Okunlola also played defensive tackle at Thayer, but will likely transfer all his focus to protecting the next quarterback at Miami.

Brian Dohn, a national recruiting analyst for 247, has projected Okunlola as a multiyear starter at a high-level college who could develop into a first-round draft pick. His pro comparison, according to Dohn, is Andrus Peat, of the New Orleans Saints.