Six months ago, Fort Washington Friendly linebacker Eteyen Edet’s plan was to earn a GED and enroll in a junior college. Football was the farthest thing from his mind.

But after a standout season for Friendly, Edet took an official visit to College Park last weekend, received a scholarship offer and accepted, becoming part of Maryland’s 2008 class.

“I kind of [expected to get offered],” Edet said. “I’m a big-time football player, so I was expecting something to come out of [the visit].”

Edet spent the majority of his life in Staten Island, N.Y. before moving onto Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy for this junior year of high school.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker had drummed up a bit of recruiting interest, but instead of being able to go to camps during the summer and get noticed, Edet was preoccupied with figuring out where he would spend his senior year of high school.

“I was at prep school at Fork Union Military Academy and I couldn’t afford it anymore, so I had to find a new location,” Edet said. “Honestly, during the summertime I didn’t even think I’d be playing high school football anymore. I thought I was going to get my GED.”

One option for Edet was moving back to New York. But that was a possibility that Edet really did not want to consider.

“I didn’t want to be in New York City,” Edet said. “I didn’t want to be over there no more. There was nothing positive in the place I was from. ... My life, struggling, coming from the ghetto -- I was ready to change my situation. A lot of kids were dropping out from school. It just was not the right environment.”

Finally in September, Edet found a home. His aunt, Victoria Bassey, agreed to take him in to her Fort Washington home.

Edet quickly enrolled at Friendly and joined the football team. He sat out a game while transfer issues were ironed out, and then proceeded to accumulate 110 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

After the season, recruiting started to pick up for Edet. Louisville, Michigan State, NC State, Ohio, Tennessee and Boston College all expressed interest.

But when schools found out Edet was a few points shy of a qualifying test score, many backed off.

“A lot of schools dropped me because of academics,” Edet said. “That’s one of the reasons I liked Maryland. They believed in me. And I feel real positive about Maryland.”

Edet took the SAT again last week, and is scheduled for another test in June -- just in case. For now, though, he’s confident that he’ll qualify, and excited that after years of uncertainty, he can call Maryland his home for another four years.

“It’s a big relief and it’s a blessing,” Edet said. “I just didn’t imagine this. I’m living my dream right now.”

Thanks to blog reader Russ for the link to Edet’s You Tube highlight reel.