West Hempstead football star recruited by Div. 1 football

Everybody around West Hempstead already knew Zadrian Budhoo was a football star but now he’s getting noticed outside his community in a big way.

That’s because he was recently recruited into Wagner College’s Division I-the highest level of intercollegiate athletics-football team.

“I committed to their football program after my recruiting coordinator reached out to me after sending them my tape.” Budhoo said.

“He was really interested in me and my craft and what I had to offer the team, which is my athletic and academic abilities. After going back and forth from the college, they finally offered me a spot and I signed last week and its just going to be up from here.”

He says he was contacted by Olong “Ollie” Ogbu, Assistant Coach for Wagner College. Before joining Wagner College, Ogbu played for the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State Nittany Lions, bringing the team Big Ten All-Conference honors before participating in the East/West Shrine Game.

Ogbu said he was most impressed with Budhoo’s speed.

“It was more about his speed for us,” Ogbu said. “He has division one level speed; we haven’t timed him yet but I think he ran 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.

When he hits the field, he takes off and that’s what made us fall in love with him and we saw how he is as a runner and we’re excited about the player that he could be for us.”

Additionally, he says he was impressed with his character and that of his family.

“Upon meeting him and his family, I loved the man he is,” Ogbu said. “He’s a bright young man and after having conversations with him, I think he’s going to be impressive for us and really turn some heads.

I got to meet his parents and brothers and they’re all kind of the same as him; very personable and hard working and want what’s best for Zadrian.”

He says that the key to his success has been his commitment to the game through the years.

“Even when I was a little kid, I used to play football for the community for the West Hempstead Broncos,” Budhoo said.

“Ever since then people always told me, ‘Zadrian’s going to be really good at football if he keeps doing what he’s doing, if he keeps striving for greatness and trusts the process’ and I did exactly that.”

At WHHS, Budhoo played as a running back receiver and starting captain and earned accolades such as being named a Newsday top 100 high school football player and an all-county football player by the Nassau County Conference of Coaches.

But he says he couldn’t have done without the mentorship of his trainer Jhaleel Oswald.

“He’s just always kept me really motivated,” Budhoo said. “He’s a close family member of mine who pursued the same football career as me. He’s older than me and took me under his wing and taught me all the arts and crafts of football.”

Oswald could not be reached for comment.

Now, Budhoo will maintain the same work ethic in college that brought him success thus far.

“My goal is to go into Wagner College with a great mindset and be a team player and give it my all both on and off the field and set a really good example for myself,” Budhoo said. “So, I can hopefully build my craft in this school and potentially even make it to the next level, which is the pros.”