Georgia 5-star commit Micah DeBose talks Ohio State, Alabama offers, lofty goals

By Ben Thomas
Vigor 5-star junior offensive tackle Micah DeBose doesn’t shy away from big goals.
Winning Mr. Football, making it to the NFL, even being inducted into the Hall of Fame one day? The 6-foot-5, 295-pound DeBose mentioned them all as Mobile County High School Football Media Days wrapped up Thursday afternoon.
“I know I have a lot of work to do,” he said. “I know I’m a big name in high school, but I’m a small fish in a big pond when you look at the grand scheme of things. I still have college to go. Hopefully, I can go three years and move up, but it depends on the school I go to and how well they develop me.
“I don’t shy away from those types of dreams, though. I like the competition. I like when people put their weight on my back and count on me so I can try to live up to their expectations.”
DeBose’s coach, Markus Cook, certainly thinks his standout lineman has an incredible future.
“I’ve seen him grow since he was an 11-year-old,” Cook said. “He gets better every day. He has good and bad days like everyone. I’ve seen days when it felt like he couldn’t block anyone and days when I didn’t think he missed a block. He has a chance to win Mr. Football. He has a chance to be one of the best to ever come out of Vigor High School as long as he stays focused and doesn’t take days off. The sky is the limit.”
One of the biggest questions facing DeBose at the moment is will he stick with Georgia. He committed to Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs in January.
“Most people think I committed to Georgia because they won the national title,” he said. “Nah. The reason I committed to Georgia was the relationship and the bond we built. Georgia was the first school that showed they actually cared about me, showed me that I could be an impact player for them when I get there.”
DeBose, a Cleveland native, recently picked up an offer from Ohio State – his “dream school” – that could ultimately change his decision. In-state power Alabama also is in heavy pursuit of him. Is he still firmly committed to Georgia with two years of high school remaining?
“I’m not signed so I’m just dating Georgia,” he said. “I’m not married to Georgia yet.”
DeBose and the Wolves open the season against rival Blount at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Aug. 26. In the meantime, the 16-year-old also talked about his childhood, his goals and his high school career on Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile.
How old were you when someone said you might be able to play college football?
“I was about 12. Coach Cook believed in me. He told me I could be a 5-star when I grow up. I’m blessed that he developed me in that way to become a big deal.”
Were you always an offensive lineman?
“In park ball, I played a little bit of tight end and a little fullback, but other than that I’ve always been an offensive or defensive lineman my whole life.”
How old were you when you started in Vigor’s 2021 state championship game?
“I was 14.”
Were you friends with those guys?
“I was always friends with those guys. That is one of my favorite senior groups. It was a blessing playing with those guys, being that age and playing with a very talented group. We hung out in school. I went places with them. It was a nice little group.”
They didn’t treat you like the little kid or the big kid?
“No. They treated me as their equal.”
Do you play a lot of different sports?
“Yes sir. I play soccer, tennis. I did track a little bit. I was going to do a big man race, but we had soccer that day. I also play basketball and football.”
You are really on the tennis team?
“I played like two games. Tennis is actually really, really fun. I didn’t expect it to be fun. It is a lot of moving, and it is a lot of fun. You can communicate well with your teammates. ... It’s great for footwork, especially side-by-side lateral movement. I tried to be like one of those guys I see on TV, and I hit it over the gate one time. I was like, ‘Dang.’”
Ohio State is another college recruiting you. Do you have roots in Ohio?
“I was born in Cleveland. I lived there until I was about 8 when we moved to Alabama. If I stayed in Cleveland, I wouldn’t be playing football. It was very dangerous at the time so we had to move, especially the neighborhood I was living in. It was all bad.”
How did you end up in Alabama?
“My mom met my stepdad, who is a great guy. He is one of the reasons I strive to do the things I do. The reason we moved was his dad had a stroke. All the puzzle pieces fell in place. It was a dangerous place (in Cleveland), and we had to go. It was a blessing in disguise.”
How were you received here? Did people welcome you when you got here?
“Not at all. I was bullied in elementary school. I wasn’t really well liked. I was the big, weird kid. I kind of had behavior problems. I was always doing stuff and acting up. One time, I ate a crayon. It was all bad.”
It is hard to believe you were a problem child.
“My mom has worked so hard. I’m very blessed to have the mom I do. She has worked so hard to mold me into the man I am today.”
How much did the Ohio State offer mean?
“It means a lot. I never thought Ohio State would offer me. They don’t really offer South kids so I set my heart on Georgia, but once I did get an Ohio State offer that was a big thing for me. That is my dream school. I love Ohio State. It is definitely one of the top places on my list.”
It seems like (Alabama defensive coordinator) Kevin Steele has made a priority to try to get you to Tuscaloosa?
“Yes sir. Coach Steele is one of my favorites. He makes me really look at Alabama. They make me look at the school differently.”