Gardena Serra’s Oluwole Betiku is bonding at UCLA
Gardena Serra defensive lineman Oluwole Betiku discusses his recruitment and his experience at The Opening.
Gardena Serra High defensive lineman Oluwole Betiku finds comfort at UCLA.
Betiku, 6-foot-4 1/2 and 239 pounds, says he often visits the Bruins’ campus to spend time with offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch.
Betiku moved to the United States in 2013 from Nigeria and Benenoch is the son of Nigerian immigrants.
“It makes you feel at home, because everywhere I go people laugh at me for my accent,” Betiku said on Thursday at The Opening football camp in Beaverton, Ore. “He understands that being different isn’t a big deal and it just makes you feel comfortable.”
UCLA is among the final schools in Betiku’s recruitment. An elite 2016 prospect, Betiku said he was also considering Florida, Florida State, Texas A&M, Penn State and Notre Dame.
He said he would make official visits to Notre Dame, Florida and Florida State, and has yet to decide where he will make the other two.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
