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By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff WriterFormer CCC offensive lineman has impressed at Miami and could see action this season.
Just past 8 p.m. on Monday, a fired-up A.J. Trump will run out of the tunnel at Doak Campbell Stadium and play the first game of his college career.
Florida State plays Miami in the annual battle between intrastate rivals. "I can't wait," Trump said.
The former Clearwater Central Catholic offensive lineman always imagined playing in this stadium in this type of big-game atmosphere.
Now he'll finally get that chance - as a Hurricane.
"It's going to be a little strange," Trump said. "I grew up a fan of the Seminoles."
Initially, Florida State and Notre Dame were at the top of Trump's college wishlist.
The Fighting Irish gave Trump the Golden Dome treatment during his recruiting visit last summer. He was sold on going there until former coach Tyrone Willingham was fired Nov. 30.
So Trump turned his attention to the Seminoles. Then came a recruiting visit to Coral Gables in December. He was sold on the chance to work with offensive line coach Art Kehoe, one of the nation's top assistants who has a sharp eye for talent.
"Having (Kehoe) here was a big selling point," Trump said. "He's one of the craziest guys I've ever met. He'll get in your face, but he knows what he's talking about. I love the guy."
As a senior at CCC, Trump graded out as a 90 percent blocker at left tackle and had 81 tackles, 19 for loss, six sacks and 24 quarterback pressures.
A scholarship offer was waiting after Kehoe watched a tape of the 6-foot-4, 290-pounder running step for step on kickoff coverage with a returner who scored a touchdown against the Marauders.
Besides being fast, Trump also is versatile, which has helped him adjust to other positions on the offensive line. This summer, he worked as a center, but is projected to be a guard.
Typically Kehoe prefers to redshirt true freshmen, but Trump and Reggie Youngblood both were recently praised by Coker and could fill in if needed.
"They haven't shown me anything yet that says they are not going to play," Coker told the Miami Herald. "They go out and play hard every day. ... We have to bring the young guys along.They're not starters (now), but who's to say they won't be?"
Still, Trump said he won't be too disappointed if he remains on the sideline this season.
"We have five solid starters on the line," Trump said. "They're a bunch of great guys in there. The coaches want to keep me on the second team just in case something happens. But I don't think they'll hesitate to put me in because I've been in the mix all along.
"Of course, I'd like to be playing in such a big game, but I understand I'll get my chance in time."