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EAST LIVERPOOL -- It didn't take East Liverpool football standout Dre'Keim Abercrombie long to realize he belonged at James Madison University.
Abercrombie left the campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on June 14 after his official visit and verbally committed to the nationally-ranked Dukes on June 17.
"It felt like home," he said. "I really liked the coaching staff and how they function."
The 6-foot-4 incoming senior drew a lot of attention, getting 11 full-ride offers from Division I colleges.
"Thinking about committing early like I did, but I also considered waiting," Abercrombie said.
He said the only other program he seriously considered was Ohio University, which was his other official visit. He also received offers from Akron, Ball State, Delaware State, Fordham, Kent State, Miami of Ohio, Toledo, UConn and Youngstown State.
Abercrombie plans on attending his first James Madison football game this fall.
"I knew the little things about them playing in the FBS," he said. "They are an upcoming team in the FBS. I've always been impressed with them."
The Dukes made their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in December, falling to Oregon, 51-34.
He said James Madison recruited him as a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid.
"I want to play defense, but I'll play anywhere they want me to," he said.
Abercrombie has one season left with the Potters before thinking about college.
Last season he had a team-high 40 catches for 461 yards (16.0) and nine touchdowns.
He will be playing wide receiver, defensive end and outside linebacker again this fall. He has big plans.
"I want to be the all-time receiving leader at my school," Abercrombie said. "I want to be All-Ohio, Ohio Mr. Football and I want to have the most tackles and sacks in East Liverpool history."
Abercrombie plans on majoring in business management.
"I want to own a business one day. That's my dream," he said. "I want to go to the NFL. If I don't go to the NFL, I plan on having my own business."
NOTES
• James Madison is in the Sun Belt Conference East Division with Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Marshall and Old Dominican.
• The Dukes open the 2026 season by hosting Liberty on Sept. 5.
They also will play at UConn on Nov. 14. UConn's new head coach is Jason Candle, a 1998 graduate of West Branch High School.
• Abercrombie said Youngstown State defensive lineman D'Shawn Kirby is one of his good friends, but Kirby did not try to talk him into going to YSU.
• James Madison defeated Youngstown State, 28-14, in the FCS national championship game during the 2016 season before moving up to FBS.
• The area has a little history with James Madison. Faith Anderson, a 2017 graduate of East Palestine High School graduate, was a diver on the James Madison swim team.
• Abercrombie also plans to return to the East Liverpool basketball team.
He averaged 15 points and nine rebounds a game as a junior. His season was limited to 12 games after suffering a sprained medial cruciate ligament.