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Oladunmoye, Grayslake North display winning identity

Some kids want the same expensive hightops or furry boots or designer jeans that their friends are wearing.

Then there's Dami Oladunmoye. His must-have fashion item was about more than just keeping up with the Jones.

He wanted a youth football jersey like all his friends had. And he wanted what came along with having a football jersey.

"When I was in second or third grade, I went to Kindercare after school and there were a bunch of other kids there who were always wearing football jerseys," Oladunmoye said. "I'd play with them at recess and I'd be like, 'Wow!' I'd really look up to them because they had those jerseys and they were on a team.

"I wanted to be the type of kid who had a jersey and played football."

Now, other kids would love to be the type of kid who can run with the football like Oladunmoye can.

Oladunmoye, a junior running back, is the engine powering a Grayslake North offense that just last weekend enacted a running clock in its first playoff triumph in school history, a 47-8 win over Chicago Hubbard in Class 6A first-round action.

With 1,818 yards and 26 touchdowns (in 233 attempts), Oladunmoye, who started playing youth football in fourth grade, shortly after he started eyeing those jerseys, has been the most prolific rusher and scorer in Lake County this season. He will lead the Knights (7-3) into their first second-round game in school history on Saturday, a match-up with Riverside-Brookfield (9-1). Kick-off is at 1 p.m. at Riverside-Brookfield.

Oladunmoye, who played more than half of the season with a broken left hand that was clubbed, had a career-high 5 touchdowns and 192 yards (on 24 carries) against Hubbard. His career-high in yardage came in Week 5 against Prairie Ridge, 325 yards on 25 carries.

"Dami is the best pure running back the program has ever had," said Grayslake North coach Steve Wood, who has been the only head coach in the 11-year history of the program. "His vision on the field is second to none and his speed is very deceptive. He has the ability to make people miss or lower his shoulder and run over you.

"His attitude has been the best part of him. He is always been a team-first player. There have been games that we have needed him to carry the ball 40 times and others only 10 to 15 times. He has never complained and goes about his business like a professional."

Funny thing is, Oladunmoye might be more of a pro at lacrosse.

He's already made a verbal commitment to Syracuse to play college lacrosse there.

Oladunmoye started playing lacrosse in gym class in fifth or sixth grade. He liked it, was pretty good at it and kept pursuing higher levels of competition.

Last summer, Oladunmoye, a midfielder, got invited to play in various showcases and all-American games on the East Coast, where lacrosse is big. An elite travel team called 3D New England even picked up Oladunmoye for a couple of tournaments over the three weeks he was scheduled to be out East.

Oladunmoye's size (5-foot-11, 176 pounds) and speed caught the attention of many college lacrosse scouts who were in attendance. He has heard from Rutgers, Marquette and the Air Force Academy as well.

"I love lacrosse and I saw it as a way to get out and better my life, and get an education," Oladunmoye said. "I always thought it would be a great experience to play a sport in college."

Football seems to be a sport that Oladunmoye could play in college as well.

His upside is high. This is really the first full season Oladunmoye has run the football. He started at cornerback last year as a sophomore and was a back-up running back. But he didn't get many touches because he played behind superstar Titus Booker, who wound up getting a scholarship to Wisconsin.

"Titus taught me a lot. He showed me what varsity was all about and that was really nice to have that," Oladunmoye said. "I watched him pretty closely. He taught me that every play doesn't need to be a touchdown. You just get as much as you can each play, and eventually you'll get into the end zone.

"I've got really good lineman and I can be shifty. I know I'll get there (to the end zone)."

Eventually, Oladunmoye will get to a place where he'll feel comfortable to make a decision on his future. Right now, even though he's technically considered a lacrosse guy, he's entertaining all offers.

"I'm not ruling out (college) football," Oladunmoye said. "I love lacrosse, but I'm starting to hear from football coaches a little bit, and I love football too."

Either way, Oladunmoye will be wearing some kind of jersey in college that other kids are sure to envy.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

• Follow Patricia on Twitter: @babcockmcgraw

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