COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Theodor Melin Öhrström’s initial interest in American football was born from a Dude Perfect video.
Öhrström, who hails from Sweden, watched the viral trick shot masters’ performance that featured Odell Beckham Jr. six years ago and purchased his own pigskin on a trip to the United States that year.
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On Friday, Öhrström performed in a camp just steps away from where Beckham and the Dude Perfect crew filmed that video — Kyle Field — and took another step toward a future in the sport, picking up a scholarship offer from the Aggies.
“It’s amazing,” Öhrström said. “I gotta say, it’s really, really cool.”
Öhrström is part of PPI Recruits, a program founded by Brandon Collier that matches international prospects with playing opportunities stateside. Collier and 11 prospects from Australia, England, Germany and Sweden are making the rounds this month to camps, and Aggieland on Friday was their latest stop.
Although Öhrström wasn’t planning to perform Friday (the group is returning to Texas A&M next week), tight ends coach James Coley was anxious to see how the 6-foot-6, 240-pound tight end looked. Öhrström obliged, and after a few reps, Coley extended an offer.
Here’s a look at 2023 TE Theodor Melin Öhrström from Sweden, who picked up an offer at Texas A&M’s camp today. Öhrström also has offers from Alabama and Florida State among others. @PPIRecruits pic.twitter.com/MQj9cb6wWp
— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) June 11, 2021
The Aggies aren’t the first and won’t be the last to do so. Ten other programs have offered Öhrström, including Alabama, Florida State, LSU and Ohio State. Öhrström’s first five offers came from his performance at a mega camp at Mercer; the Crimson Tide followed two days later.
Öhrström is part of RIG Academy in Sweden, which takes the 10 best players from the country, trains them and helps grow their knowledge of the sport. They have morning practices and afternoon workouts. Traditionally, they play teams from other countries, but they were unable to do so this past year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“A lot of people think coming from Europe that you don’t understand the game,” Öhrström said. “But our coaches know a lot more than you’d expect them to know, and they pass on all that information to us. I have a really good understanding of the game.
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“That’s something that I’ve heard from a lot of coaches, that my football IQ is a lot higher than they expect it to be.”
Öhrström is still researching schools he’s visiting, including Texas A&M, but came away with a positive impression of the Aggies.
“I definitely know it’s a good program,” he said.
Kam Dewberry, the four-star 2022 offensive tackle from Atascocita, Texas, didn’t have to work out Friday.
Dewberry, who is a priority target for the Aggies and former high school teammate of current Texas A&M left tackle Kenyon Green, could have just taken an unofficial visit and socialized with fellow recruits and current A&M players and coaches.
But Dewberry participated in the camp anyway, getting instruction from Texas A&M offensive line coach Josh Henson.
“I just wanted to work,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to get some work in and work with Coach Henson.”
Ranked as the No. 102 prospect in the 247Sports Composite, Dewberry is taking visits as he mulls his finalists: Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.
After some drill work with Henson, Dewberry went over some finer technique points with Green, an All-American guard last season for the Aggies. At Atascocita High, just northeast of Houston, Green was a senior left tackle when Dewberry was a freshman right tackle in 2018. If Dewberry winds up at Texas A&M, the two could be teammates again, but only if Green, a junior, doesn’t declare for the NFL Draft first. (Head coach Jimbo Fisher considers Green a future first-round pick, regardless of when he declares.)
A couple of Atascocita guys — current #TAMU OT Kenyon Green and 2022 4-star OT Kam Dewberry — chatting during the #Aggies Friday camp. pic.twitter.com/nM6zUnSdA3
— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) June 11, 2021
Dewberry is coming off an official visit to LSU and is scheduled to take his official visit to Texas A&M on June 18. His Ohio State official visit will follow on June 25, and 247Sports reported that Dewberry will unofficially visit Texas this weekend.
There were several rising prospects on hand for the Aggies’ Friday camp.
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• DK Kalu, a 2023 defensive lineman from Ridge Point High in Missouri City, Texas, made his first June recruiting trip to Aggieland, working at defensive tackle with defensive line coach Elijah Robinson. Kalu, who checked in at 6-2 3/4, 283 pounds, has six offers thus far: Baylor, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Rice, SMU and TCU.
Kalu, the son of former NFL defensive lineman ND Kalu, said he will also attend camps at Baylor and Rice this month and TCU in July and will make an unofficial visit to Baylor on June 24.
• Tyler King, a speedy 2022 receiver from Alief Taylor High in Houston, ran a hand-timed 40-yard dash of 4.28 seconds. King was unranked just two months ago and was one of the state’s most underrated recruits. Now a three-star prospect, King has collected 12 offers, all of them coming since April 13. Texas Tech became the first Power 5 program to offer King earlier this month.
King is also a track star, boasting a personal best time of 20.74 seconds in the 200-meter dash and 10.21 in the 100.
• Zion Taylor, a 2024 edge rusher from Shadow Creek High in Pearland, Texas, was also on hand. Taylor has quickly garnered attention from colleges this spring, picking up offers from Colorado, Houston, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and UTSA.
Despite his youth, Taylor put on an array of impressive pass rush moves in one-on-one drills.
Put some work in at #Aggieland today. It was great being able work with some of the best coaches and players in the game. I would like to thank all the coaches for the great advice.#GigEm @CoachBeeTJordan @Perroni247 @AndrewHatts @R_Brauninger @AggiesToday @TA_Recruiting pic.twitter.com/c7pmw8jJO1
— Zion Taylor ⭐️ (@ziontaylor2024) June 11, 2021
• Serigne Tounkara, a 2023 defensive lineman from Clear Falls High in League City, Texas, performed well. Tounkara, who also competed at SMU’s Dallas Showcase mega camp on June 6, has garnered interest from Kansas State and Texas Tech since his performance in Dallas.
Tounkara, who checked in at 6-2 3/4, 237 pounds, came away impressed with Texas A&M and said, “One day, hopefully, I’ll be able to play here or in a place like this.” Tounkara, who is still seeking his first offer, will attend camps at Baylor and Texas Tech later this month.
(Photo of Theodor Melin Öhrström: Sam Khan Jr. / The Athletic)
