Oaks Christian RB Semaj Freeman on his recruitment

There are many players in California that would have strongly benefitted from playing a full senior season. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) running back [player_tooltip player_id="25204" first="Semaj" last="Freeman"] is one of them. He had an injury that caused him to miss a month of his junior season and made him somewhat limited in the games he did play. Since then, Freeman has transformed his body, gaining 15 pounds and improving nearly every aspect of his game. He is the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/california/rankings/2021-rankings/">second best uncommitted running back in the state according to Prep Redzone</a> and scouts were expected to pay close attention to him during his track season and spring football. https://twitter.com/davidwilson_AD/status/1165086533252071424?s=20 Despite his limited junior year film, he put up impressive numbers with 486 yards on just 53 carries for an average of 9.2 yards per carry and added six touchdowns. His production drew the attention of some schools and he got offers from Nevada, New Mexico and Northern Arizona last summer. "I’m looking for a balance of strong football history and my major of study," Freeman said. "Also, I like the college town atmosphere and a football system I can learn and grow into in time." Freeman likes the schools that have offered him, but he has aspirations to play for a Mountain West or Pac 12 school. "I have been talking to Pac 12 schools and Mountain West schools, just no offers coming in now," Freeman said. "So, I’m hoping that with a season I will achieve that goal and earn some offers." Freeman hasn’t had a chance to visit any of the schools that have offered him but has done a few virtual tours. He took an unofficial visit to Arizona State where he got to attend a game, try on uniforms and do a photoshoot. https://twitter.com/MajFreeman1/status/1193376843677593600?s=20 As a traveling track star, Freeman and his family have traveled across the country and visited many campuses. Academics are very important to his family and both of his parents have master’s degrees. "Over the years, I have traveled all over the United States qualifying for Track Nationals and regionals, and as a family we always picked a day to visit colleges in the area while we were in that region of the country," Freeman said. "I feel like I have visited quite a few colleges during my youth and high school years across the US." This offseason, Freeman has undergone a rigorous strength and conditioning program with his brother <a href="https://nmstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/dassani-freeman/6792">Dassani Freeman</a>, a defensive end at New Mexico State. He has added muscle while maintaining his elite track speed. "We worked out every day with stability, agility isolated muscle work as well as hip-flexor and core strength and speed ladders using the Vertimax and other speed and strength tools," Freeman said. "My highlight film is misleading because at that time I was only 180 pounds. I’m currently 5’11” and 205 pounds and faster than I have ever been. My 40 was clocked at 4.5 and my equivalent in the 100m is a sub 11 seconds. I was bummed that I couldn’t show all the hard work I had put in in September." https://twitter.com/MajFreeman1/status/1190788638419718144?s=20 Freeman has not been playing club football and looks forward to hopefully getting a chance to play football with his Oaks Christian teammates one last time. He worked hard to rehab from his injury as a junior and has worked even harder to improve his game during the Coronavirus pandemic. "Some of my teammates and I have played with each other since youth and we look forward to playing together one more season before going off to our respective colleges of choice," Freeman said. "I know if coaches had a chance to see me now, they will see my dedication and how I turned a pandemic into a positive. This has led to a new me, through hard work in the weight room and mental focus that has made my understanding of my abilities even greater." " Our season is crucial to me and my opportunity to show what I really can do with my 205-pound frame and 4.4 speed. My head coach, <strong>Coach (Charles) Collins</strong> was hyped up when I returned to practice and could see the physical as well as the mental changes."