Jamauri Laguerre: Football is my dependency. It carries so many meanings to me in it. Football gave me a purpose, it became my life. It teaches me life lessons and molds me into a better person.
Joe Gaiter: Tell me about the good old days at Edison High School?
Jamauri Laguerre: It’s not a day I go without thinking about these days. I can write a book on how this school made me a man. “62Boyz” that’s what we called each other because the school was located on 62nd Street. These days are legendary. I wanted to be great and better than the next man so I asked my coach If I can have a key to the weight room for extra work and he gave it to me. I used to get up and start my day off hitting the weight room with a few of my teammates before home room class started and then had practice after school. It got us better and bigger and the work showed. Also playing at Miami Edison, we were considered the underdogs in the city, before I transferred the school was (1-9),(5-5) and arrived my junior year and ended off (6-4) and then my senior year we made it to the playoffs for first time since ‘03 and ended the season 9-2. So to have that under my belt means a lot to me !
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment experience?
Jamauri Laguerre: My recruitment experience was fairly good. I wish I knew what I know now back then. It’s a few things I would’ve did differently and said differently when it came to media. However, I had up to about 12+ offers and committed to UAB, the summer going into my senior year when later about Late August they called me and told me that I had to decommitt and they was pulling my offer for a in-state corner. That ruined a lot of things for me pretty much and trying to reach coaches during the season was unlikely. I ended my senior year with about 60+ tackles, 3 INT, 10 PBU, ACT:20 , GPA-3.6.
I balled! However coaches was not reaching out to offer me but I kept faith. After the cut off period and coaches was able to reach out in January, they (Louisville, South Carolina, Sanford, Idaho, Charlotte, East Carolina) was talking to me but no visits no offers. Signing Day arrived I didn’t get to sign because there was no school, no offer. I felt like I didn’t have any help or nothing but something had to shake!
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Bethune-Cookman University?
Jamauri Laguerre: I chose Bethune-Cookman University, because they chose me. I remember the day Coach Williams, my position coach walked in my school a few weeks after signing day looking for a prospect for the 2018 class and saw me and was like “Wassup Big Time, what school did you sign to? “ I said coach I didn’t get to sign, and he was shocked because the day he came in I big-timed him because Coach Randy (UF) and Coach Corey (USF) at the time was there to talk to me and spoke a few words to him and talked to them. He was wondering why I didn’t sign anywhere. Was it my scores? Grades? But that wasn’t the case. He told me if I wanted play college ball keep in touch with him and I did throughout my senior year and he had me apply for the school and get into summer school where I was able to showcase in camp and play as a “preferred walk-on” and receive a scholarship if I played my cards right, which I did.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Jamauri Laguerre: The answer above is basically that untold story, that I feel like a lot of people needed to read because now you’ll look at me different and understand why I play the way I do because it’s a lot of fuel in this tank of mine. I overcame a lot of obstacles early on and now I make it look easy like there wasn’t a struggle to begin with.
Joe Gaiter: What were your stats this year?
Jamauri Laguerre: I’ll be honest my stats this year didn’t match me potentially. I didn’t play as much as I did my sophomore year, I tallied about 30 tackles, 6 PBUs, and a fumble recovery in about 6 games that I played in. However, in the games I did get to showcase in I balled. I was tied with the most tackles in games such as Miami, NCAT, and FAMU.
Joe Gaiter: What are keys in playing corner back?
Jamauri Laguerre: My keys in playing cornerback is first my competition, I want to know and study my opponent first. Then, when it’s in play and we are on the field it’s about my alignment and depth. I have to tell myself and the WR right now I’m better than you and this my island, I’m high on confidence and manifestation.
Joe Gaiter: How is your relationship like with Head Coach Terry Sims and the coaching staff?
Jamauri Laguerre: My relationship with these group of men is like a father and son relation with each coach. I know they love me because they took me in and believed in me when I didn’t have anything. They want nothing but the best for me and I say “father-son relation” because not everything will be fine they know how to mold me into a better person and player when they notice I’m distracted or not on track.
Joe Gaiter: Are you satisfied with the 7-4 record last season?
Jamauri Laguerre: I’m definitely not satisfied with that record, and the records before hand. Last season, we were a better team, I know it, and the record shouldn’t have been the way it is.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about the atmosphere like on gameday at BCU?
Jamauri Laguerre: The atmosphere on game day at BCU is very traditional. We get to dress up in our burgundy coats and walk down the “Legacy Walk” led by our cheerleaders and royal court, and walk pass our former classmates, fans, and the strong alumni.
Joe Gaiter: How did you face adversity this year?
Jamauri Laguerre: I faced adversity sitting out games, knowing I should on the field making a play and knowing it’s not in my control. Waiting to hear your number called and it’s not, and you’re supposedly the “leader of the CBs” but it’s not called the entire game is a dim feeling. Win or Lose ! It’s like taking football away from me not allowing me to do what I do best, being held up against your will and can’t do anything. Listen, I don’t blame anyone other than myself. I take full responsibility on everything dealing with Jamauri Bam Laguerre.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your clothing line Certified Apparel.
Jamauri Laguerre: “Certified Apparel”, I was told one day by my brother EJ that I was a “walking brand, and he watched how people looked up to and followed me either on the field or off. I honor that. I thought about ways I can showcase my name or the phrase “certified” so I came up with up a clothing line then brainstormed for names and named it Certified Apparel. Thanks to Bethune Cookman, my family & friends support it blew up rapidly. I plan on keeping up with it later, marketing it in stores or its own store as well.
Joe Gaiter: What is one quote that you live by?
Jamauri Laguerre: I live by the quote “aspire to inspire, before you expire”
I want to set the example or the direction for others hopes and ambition.
Also, fill others with the urge to be someone successful or creative
“Expire” – I want to do those things until the day I’m not on this earth and I’m remembered by that.
Joe Gaiter: Year 4 is around the corner. What can we expect from you next season?
Jamauri Laguerre: Have high expectations for me, look out for my name, because this tank is Filled with fuel and I’m not letting off the accelerator. I will have that All American season I always wanted and that my Head Coach Sims promised me to have.
Joe Gaiter: What is your legacy?
Jamauri Laguerre: I live by the name Certified, that’s my legacy. You take tests to receive certifications in life if you are consider great or perfect at something you must have a certificate to prove that and in my eyes I’m that living certificate!
Joe Gaiter: Who are some other athletes we should look out for next season?
Jamauri Laguerre: I attend a HBCU full of great athletes and great students. I’m a leader, a team player and it’s no specific players to look out for it’s a roster full of guys on my team. Everyone should look out for because they all have their own untold story and are hungry for a chance and opportunity!
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Jamauri Laguerre: I thank God for everything! I thank you for giving me the chance to speak up and tell my story. I encourage you to reach other guys as well because this is nothing but a chance for someone to reach out to us in this world, we need people like you. I thank my school and staff for my second chance at football and stay tune for this season!
Joe Gaiter: Shoutouts?
Jamauri Laguerre: Shoutout out to the most meaningful people in my life, my mother, my sisters and grandma’s! Notably, shoutout to the special people in my life, and those who support me in anything I do! Lastly, shoutout to my mentors, teachers and coaches. God bless you all I hope you smile more when you see me.
You can follow me on Instagram & Twitter- @iAmMrCertified !
Jamauri Laguerre, Bethune-Cookman, Interview with Joe Gaiter was last modified: May 4th, 2020 by Joseph Gaiter
