St. Thomas University star Michael Torrence has strong football bloodlines

Michael Torrence, raised by a single mother, grew up in his aunt’s two-bedroom apartment in Lauderdale Lakes.

There were six people in the unit, and Torrence and his brother, Breshaud Pickett, slept in the living room, often fighting for the right to sleep on the larger of two couches.

These days, Torrence, a 6-1, 270-pound defensive end in a 3-4 alignment, is perhaps the best player on the St. Thomas University Bobcats football team, an NAIA program that is set to begin its second season later this month.

As a freshman last season, Torrence had 16 1/2 tackles for losses and was second in the NAIA in sacks with nine.

Torrence, 20, has also had success in the classroom, majoring in business and raising his grade-point average from 2.7 to 3.5.

But none of it has come easy for Torrence, especially after his father left their home a dozen years ago.

Torrence last spoke to him one year ago.

“I tried to call him to tell him how I’m doing on the field,” Torrence said. “I still need that father figure. … Football is where I can take out my anger and my pain.”

Torrence has channeled that pain in positive ways. He has worked at a McDonald’s and also delivered groceries and went door to door to wash cars, but he’s at St. Thomas because he wants to learn about finance so he can own no fewer than eight businesses.

“Jet-ski rental, real estate, moving company,” Torrence said, listing his targeted businesses. “Lawn service, home cleaning, mobile detailing …”

You can’t knock the hustle of Torrence, whose football story started at age 5 as a running back for the Lauderdale Lakes Vikings. He soon outgrew the position and was a three-year starter at Monarch High, first as a linebacker and then as a two-way lineman.

Football is in his blood. His uncle, Asante Samuel, retired in 2013 as a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback. Another uncle, James Bostic, led the SEC in rushing while playing for Auburn in 1993.

In addition, four of Torrence’s cousins have played big-time football: linebacker Jon Bostic (Florida, NFL second-round pick, now with Washington); defensive lineman Pat Sims (Auburn, third-round pick, now retired); cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (Florida State); and wide receiver James Bostic Jr. (Vanderbilt).

Torrence said he had his own FBS offers from FAU, FIU, Old Dominion and others, but he was hooked on St. Thomas when coaches came to Monarch to recruit him.

“They told me that if we bought in we could be something great,” he said.

The Bobcats, who finished 4-6 in their inaugural season, are not great quite yet, but they have big dreams.

Second-year coach Bill Rychel is proud of his defense, which includes Torrence and also sophomore outside linebacker Donnell Bennett III, son of the former Miami Hurricanes star and NFL running back of the same name.

Both of them made first-team All-Mid-South last year, and Bennett also had 73 tackles.

“Michael is starting to take over the d-line room as a leader,” Rychel said. “Donnell is able to rush the passer and also drop in coverage.”

Offensively, the Bobcats are led by four returning sophomores: quarterback Kalani Ilimaleota-Adams, center Joey Suarez, running back Robert Armes and wide receiver John Israel-Cooper.

Ilimaleota-Adams passed for 1,076 yards and 11 TDs and ran for 275 yards and two scores.

Armes ran for 699 yards for a 4.9 average with three touchdowns last year. Israel-Cooper caught 48 passes for 642 yards and six touchdowns, earning honors as Sun Division Offensive Freshman of the Year.

Rychel has added several new assistant coaches this year, including co-defensive coordinator Brad Rzyczycki; Ron Dolciato (running backs); Gonzalo Morales (wide receiver); Oscar Castaneda (kickers); and Justin Post (GA, offense).

STU’s nine-game schedule begins on Sept. 19 against visiting Southeastern. On Sept. 26, the Bobcats will play host to defending division champion Keiser, which rallied last year to beat STU 39-32.

Then, on Oct. 10, the Bobcats will initiate their budding football rivalry at Florida Memorial.

“The rivalry will develop — it’s the ‘Battle of Miami Gardens,’ ” Rychel said. “But it’s not a rivalry until we play them.”

This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 10:30 AM.