Cooper City star Rashad Weaver chooses Pittsburgh on National Signing Day
It sometimes happens in the recruiting process.
One of your dream colleges doesn’t want you quite as much as you want it.
This was the case recently when Cooper City’s Rashad Weaver found out there likely wasn’t any room for him at the University of Michigan.
On Wednesday afternoon, Weaver capitalized on one of the new opportunities that presented themselves since he moved on.
And it meant the world to the 6-5, 255-pound defensive end who wants to become a doctor after football.
“It’s been a long stressful process and I’m just lucky to have the support system I have at home,” Weaver told the gathered crowd inside the Cooper City High auditorium as as he fought back tears. “I was blessed to receive 24 scholarship offers and I’ve chosen to continue my education at the University of Pittsburgh.”
Weaver chose the Panthers, who were among numerous schools that came chasing him after his recruitment reopened recently, over Penn State and Temple.
In one of the largest National Signing Day turnouts in Broward County football history that featured 61 overall FBS scholarship signees that signed letters of intent throughout the day, Weaver was the lone football signee for Cooper City.
“Rashad is a talented football player, but it’s all the other things that make him special,” Cooper City coach Brandon Walker said. “He gets it done in the classroom and he’s a kid that’s respected on campus. It’s been a privilege to coach him. Hopefully, he’s the guy that gets our program on the map.”
Weaver had his mother, sister and grandfather with him on stage when he signed Wednesday. Weaver said he has always been fascinated by science and likes challenges, which is why he wants to study medicine.
He visited Penn State and Pittsburgh during what he called a “stressful two weeks”leading up to National Signing Day.
“The last two weeks have been very hard on him. Being committed to Michigan, to that going away, to the love he got from these other schools was a little overwhelming for him,” Walker said. “Going to college is a four-year decision and that’s a lot of pressure for a young man to choose in that short amount of time. He handled it as he always does with a lot of class.”
Weaver is capable of coming in and quickly making an impact at Pittsburgh as an edge rusher and someone who can help contain the run on a team that was one of the best in the ACC this past season putting pressure on the quarterback.
“It means a lot because I just felt grateful to all my friends and family that helped me throughout this process,” Weaver said. “Not everyone has that kind of support. I feel like Pittsburgh is a program on the rise and I can go there and make an immediate impact.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 8:17 PM with the headline "Cooper City star Rashad Weaver chooses Pittsburgh on National Signing Day."