Miami CB commit Romanas ‘OJ’ Frederique’s excited for his senior season: ‘Every time I get tried, I should catch a pick’

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas three-star Miami cornerback commit Romanas “OJ” Frederique will face a level of competition different than anything he’s seen before when he suits up for the Raiders this fall, but he remains undaunted by his new challenges.

Frederique, who flipped to the Hurricanes from West Virginia earlier this summer, transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas this spring after spending his sophomore and junior varsity football seasons at Deerfield Beach, where he quickly made a name for himself and jumped onto Power Five radars by locking down elite South Florida receivers like 2023 top-35 Florida State signee Hykeem Williams. But this fall, he’ll face intense competition from the start against programs like Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, a fellow program littered with Power Five talent. That game is later today.

Frederique doesn’t plan to back down, and he said Miami’s coaches are eager to monitor his senior year after watching him star at the Hurricanes’ prospect camps this summer.

“Everything’s been great,” Frederique said about his transition to St. Thomas Aquinas, who Maxpreps currently ranks as the No. 9 high school team nationally. “The process, the coaches are great, the environment, we have coaches that get on you every time, and I like that.”

So what are his expectations for his senior season?

“Every time I get tried, I should catch a pick,” Frederique said. “I’m hoping that every time I get tried I end up with a pick. Tackles, I want 25-plus. And PBUs, I don’t really want PBUs — I want picks.”

Frederique took reps at receiver and cornerback this spring and fall camp and is expected to return kicks and punts this fall. Miami has talked to him about a role on special teams once he arrives in Coral Gables as well, but most importantly, the staff wants to see him ball out during his senior season.

“They’ve been telling me to keep kicking butt, because coming from Deerfield, I played it all there,” Frederique said. “They’re telling me to keep doing what I’m doing and just have some fun. I think I’m a great returner, so we talk about that too.”

CaneSport’s Take

Frederique is an underrated receiver and will take some snaps both ways for St. Thomas Aquinas this year, but he’ll make his money as a college cornerback. His length, physicality and aggression offer a strong foundation, although many experienced receivers are savvy enough to understand how to use his aggression against him.

Frederique will enroll in summer 2024 due to St. Thomas Aquinas’ academic calendar, although his time with the prep school’s coaching staff could mean he’ll enter the college level slightly more polished than some other defensive back prospects.

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