Miami could have a two-sport star ready to do big things. Good thing he is a big guy.
Miami basketball player Raphael Akpejiori was on hand for a football practice Friday, and according to one report he has an interest in playing tight end for the Hurricanes this fall. Inside The U was first to report this possible sports transition in the works.
Akpejiori has already spent four years with the basketball team and has graduated, but still has one year of eligibility remaining. He is hoping to be able to do what Jimmy Graham did before him by moving from the hard court to the gridiron. Graham joined the football team in 2009 after playing basketball for Miami. Graham moved to the tight end position and performed well for the Hurricanes. Akpejiori hopes to do the same with similar height (At 6'-9" Akpejiori is apparently one inch taller than Graham was), but this could be more of a work in progress for the hoops player. Graham went to Miami with some football experience behind him. The same cannot be said for Akpjiori, a Nigerian native, who has no football background going in.
If successful, Miami could benefit from this experiment working out because the Hurricanes have some shallow depth at the position.
Helmet sticker to State of the U.