Dalton’s Demon Deacon: Hernandez’s ability on soccer field presents him with life-changing opportunity

Published 9:21 pm Thursday, December 6, 2018

For Dalton High School senior Omar Hernandez, the beautiful game has opened doors.

This past week, Hernandez signed to play soccer at Wake Forest University. Hernandez was pursued by other schools from around the country including the University of South Florida, Southern Methodist University and the University of South Carolina but verbally committed to the Demon Deacons this past February. Since that time, Hernandez was named Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year and also signed with the Atlanta United Academy. Hernandez said he was proud of both achievements but is looking forward to college more than anything else.

“My family is really proud of me,” Hernandez said. “I’ll be the first person in my family to ever go to college.”

Having the chance to play at what Hernandez called a “top dog” program like Wake Forest was intriguing. The Demon Deacons are currently the No. 2 ranked team in NCAA Division I and have produced more Major League Soccer players than any college program over the past three years. Last year’s team lost seven players to the MLS.

The small campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was also attractive to Hernandez who said he didn’t want to have to navigate the large campuses at other universities. Beyond the competition on the pitch, the education offered at Wake Forest was the main selling point.

“Getting a degree is really important there,” Hernandez said. “They’ve told me how a many job opportunities will be available with a degree from the school.”

Atlanta United does not allow its academy players to compete for high school teams, so Hernandez will not be playing for the Catamounts this spring. At least three nights a week Hernandez drives south on I-75 to train at the Atlanta United training facility in Marietta. According to Hernandez, it’s the farthest commute of any of the players on the Atlanta United U19 roster, but the attacking midfielder is grateful for the opportunity to compete at such a high level.

“You have to think quicker with them, it’s a big step up,” Hernandez said. “You can just tell it’s a different game style, a different style of play.”

Before signing with Atlanta United, Hernandez played his club soccer with Chattanooga Football Club. Brian McBride is a coach and the recruiting coordinator for the program and the person who Hernandez said helped him more than anyone navigate the college recruitment process.

“I really didn’t know much about who the good teams were or how recruiting worked,” Hernandez said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without coach McBride.”

McBride has helped a number of players sign college scholarships through the Chattanooga Football Club program. Seeing Hernandez sign with Atlanta United and now with Wake Forest was a moment of pride for McBride.

“He overcame a lot, that a lot of kids like him aren’t able to overcome,” McBride said. “Not just with his talent, but with how badly he wants it. A lot of kids will tell you they want to be pros, but won’t work for it.”

Playing with one of the best development academies in North America has helped Hernandez see a higher level of soccer. Attending a top-30 institution such as Wake Forest — No. 27 in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings — could possibly allow Hernandez see much more.

“I don’t think people from the outside really understand the magnitude of what it means for a kid like that to graduate from Wake Forest,” McBride said. “His family’s life will be changed forever. The trajectory of his family will completely change forever.”