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-> New York City’s public high schools, for example, may not be known as places to find major college football talent, but Siriki Diabate did get to Syracuse from the Bronx, and when he started coaching and looking for linebackers for UConn in 2022, he went out to his old neighborhoods. And there he found Oumar Diomande.
“Coach Siriki is from New York, so him finding me was a huge thing,” said Diomande, who earned his first start at inside linebacker for the Huskies on Saturday, “and a huge thing for the team, too. Where I went to high school, we hadn’t had a D-1 athlete in 13 years, so I guess I was a lucky guy.” <-
-> Every step of the way, Diomande has worked closely with Diabate to gain his spot on the defense, alongside grad transfer Tyquan King at inside linebacker in Brock’s rebuilt defense.
“He’s really been that guy for me, a second father,” Diomande said. “Coming from New York, finding me in New York, teaching me since I was a freshman. He’s always been hard on me, but I know that was a good thing for me. He always reminded me of my ‘why,’ my mom, my dad, and he always told me to be that guy, be confident. He always had to remind me to be confident.” <-
