The Inside Story on KJ Cloyd’s decision: LB never took Miami visit; one particular Hurricanes coach key in the process
When new Miami transfer LB addition KJ Cloyd first went into the portal June 1 as a grad senior, he initially was thinking about playing his final year of college for Ole Miss.
“That was the first school that really got my eye, being from Mississippi (where he grew up and played high school ball) – I have to be honest, it was intriguing,” Cloyd said.
Ole Miss reached out the day Cloyd went into the portal; three days later the Canes came calling.
So how did Miami win out?
The simple answer is two words: Derek Nicholson.
It was Nicholson that coached Cloyd for three years at Louisville, and in the end Cloyd simply wanted to play for him again.
“I knew that coach DNick was down there, and he’s a great coach,” Cloyd said. “I was with him my whole time at Louisville (Cloyd spent his first year out of high school at junior college) and he’s really a coach that cares about his players beyond football. I’m extremely excited to be back with him.”
Cloyd committed to Miami without ever taking a visit.
“I talked to coach (Mario) Cristobal and that was my thing, talking to the head coach and seeing that he likes me was really important to me,” Cloyd said. “I’m not really interested in the flirting and everything, just getting down to business. So we got to talking to coach Cristobal, he told me it would be a good situation for me to come into, that I could help the team. And that’s what happened.”
Cloyd says he’s unsure which linebacker spot he’ll begin at, although his prior Louisville experience is mainly in the middle. As for Cloyd’s goal this coming season at Miami?
“I have to be honest, I’m just looking to get down there and help the team win,” he said. “So whatever spot they want me at is where I’ll play. I played middle linebacker at Louisville and outside in JUCO and high school.”
In many ways Cloyd feels blessed just to be playing football anywhere. During his sophomore year of high school he suffered a devastating injury during an Oklahoma drill.
“I tore my shoulder, separated nerves in my shoulder and neck, missed my entire sophomore year and part of my junior year because of that injury,” Cloyd said. “They were talking about amputating my arm.”
That wasn’t necessary, but it was a grueling rehab process. Cloyd was back to full strength by his senior year, but he only had one offer after that season, from Jones County Junior College in Mississippi. He played there for one season, then landed offers from programs like Mississippi, Mississippi State, Minnesota and, of course, Louisville.
“My junior college defensive coordinator knew DNick and said that for me it wasn’t going to be about talent, athleticism,” Cloyd said. “I needed to learn football and X’s and O’s. Without DNick I can say I don’t know if I’d be the player I am today.”
Cloyd says he will report to Miami this week and begin training with the team – he’ll enroll for the first semester of the fall.
It’s time for the next chapter of his journey.
The post The Inside Story on KJ Cloyd’s decision: LB never took Miami visit; one particular Hurricanes coach key in the process appeared first on On3.
