The warm welcome he received, and his relationship with fellow Texas defensive back who was on the visit, all created an extremely positive experience for Dickinson (Tex.) defensive back Rodney Bimage during his official visit to Arizona State.

“It was a great visit. When we first got there and met with the players, we connected right away, and we had a bond. They took us around and showed us the place, and it was amazing. I loved the city, the campus, and the dorms. The academics are good. They told me that if you don’t do well in your classes, that’s on you. The school takes care of its players, stays hard on them, and makes sure they get their work done. The coaches want all their players to get their degrees so that when they are done with football, they have something to fall back on.

“(Current ASU safety) Xavien Alford was our host, and he told us that he likes ASU because it’s a team that gives you a lot of opportunities. Some other colleges will just tell you stuff, so you go there. But he said that the coaches here are real, and they’re not just lying and saying stuff. That’s all the stuff that I talked with (ASU cornerbacks coach) Coach Carrington. I have a great relationship with him. He doesn’t talk to you just about football but about life too and how that can carry you after football.”

Bimage said that the ASU staff had highlighted his speed, technique, and use of hands as some of the traits they appreciate when it comes to his cornerback skills. The cornerback said that the Sun Devils’ scheme fits his aggressive style of play style and effective use of technique.

Chris Johnson, an Aledo, Tex. defensive back who also visited over the weekend, was the recruit that Bimage associated with the most during his time in Tempe. Arizona State is the only school that overlaps their interests, and when asked if he could see himself playing in the same college as his fellow Texan, he replied: “Yes, I could see that.”

Bimage will officially visit Kansas this weekend and plans to also visit Florida State, Texas A&M, and North Carolina at later dates. While he didn’t specify an approximate commitment date, he noted, “It’s close.”

“I’m gonna look at how the school treats their players,” Bimage commented, “and how far can they get their players to where they need to be. How can they develop them well to play on Saturdays? I also want to see who can develop me into a better man off the football field.

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