An Early Look at the Top NYS Prospects for 2018 | Syracusefan.com

An Early Look at the Top NYS Prospects for 2018

sutomcat

No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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This is based on all star teams, all state teams, etc.

I don't think this class is as deep as the last couple of years. So far, I know of only 11 players with offers from BCS programs.

Jeremy Ruckert is probably the best prospect in the state. He is a national recruit with tons of offers from big-time schools. Could be Gronk II.

Matt Jones is a great DL prospect with offers from just about everyone. Another national recruit.

Qadir White is the best OL in the state. Has offers from many ACC, B1G and SEC schools, including Syracuse.

Aron Cruickshank plays QB for Erasmus Hall but has elite athletic ability and speed, is seen as a Custis Samuel clone, and has offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Syracuse and others. Will play WR at the college level.

Paul Woods, Atrilleon Williams, Amad Anderson and Zihir Lacewell are other top prospects at WR from NYS, all have a number of offers from BCS schools and all will be highly recruited.

Gabe Horan is another big guy who can run. Only has an offer from Syracuse so far. Hopefully he will accept that offer soon.

Stevie Scott is the next BCS recruit from the Syracuse CBA football factory. He has an offer from BC and possibly one from SU as well.

The second group of players mostly have offers from schools like UConn and Buffalo. I am particularly fond of Cory Gross out of Brockport, a kid with speed and great grades. Braeden Zenelovic might be the best QB prospect in NY, but unlike 2015 QB Jake Zembiec or 2016 QB Jake Coan, it appears he still doesn't have any major offers.

Keep an eye on Jalin Cooper, a big WR with excellent speed out of Medina. He has an offer from Toledo and it appears Syracuse has serious interest.

I have included my list again below in text format, for people whose eyes are not at the BCS level.

# Name Pos High School Hgt Wgt Comments

Best D1 Prospects in NYS Class of 2018

# Name Pos High School Hgt Wgt Comments

1 Jeremy Ruckert ATH Lindenhurst HS, Lindenhurst 6'6 215 1st team All Long Island, 2nd team USA TODAY All State as a sophomore, offers Bama, FSU, UM, OSU, etc.
2 Matthew Jones DL Erasmus Hall, Brooklyn 6'4 290 1st team USA TODAY All State, 2nd team All NYS class AA as soph, offers from OSU, Clemson, SU, etc.
3 Qadir White OT Cardinal Hayes, Bronx 6'7 291 Offers from BC, Georgia, Miami, Pitt, Syracuse, Maryland, Minnesota, Coastal Carolina and Rutgers.
4 Aron Cruickshank WR Erasmus Hall, Brooklyn 5'10 168 Offers from Syracuse, Michigan, OSU and Wisconsin
5 Paul Woods WR Canisius HS, Buffalo 6'1 160 BC and RU offers.
6 Gabe Horan TE/DE Baker HS, Baldwinsville 6'6 255 1st all All CNY as a junior. Offered by Syracuse
7 Atrilleon Williams ATH Archbishop Stepinac HS, White Plains 6'2 180 Offers from Syracuse, BC and Rutgers
8 Amad Anderson WR Curtis HS, Staten Island 6'1 170 All NYC 2nd team offense as a junior, 46 catches for 697 yards and 8 TDs. Offers from SU, Wagner and RU.
9 Zihir Lacewell WR Tottenville HS, Staten Island 6'3 190 Offers from Pitt, Temple and Rutgers
10 Stevie Scott III RB CBA HS, Syracuse 6'1 220 1st team All CNY as a sophomore, offers from Syracuse and Boston College
11 Dylan McDuffie ATH St Francis HS, Athol Springs 5'11 210 Ran for 1545 yards 17 TDs as a junior. Offer from Buffalo.
12 Messiah Swinson DE/TE Lutheran HS, Glen Head 6'7 213 Offer from Uconn. Interest from Duke. Late father Corey played at Hampton.
13 Cory Gross DB Brockport HS, Brockport 6'1 195 First team AGR, 4th team All NYS Class A as a soph, 3rd team class A all state as jr, 3.8 GPA, UB offer
14 Lucas Nunez WR Cardinal Hayes, Bronx 5'8 170 Offers from Buffalo and Rutgers
15 Jalin Cooper WR Medina/Lyndonville, Medina 6'5 180 Toledo offer, interest from Syracuse
16 Braeden Zenelovic QB Wayne HS, Ontario 6'4 200 Interest from Kentucky
17 Dylan Laube RB Westhampton HS, Westhampton 5'11 175 2nd team All Long Island as a sophomore, 1st team class A all state, Joe Cipp Award winner as junior
18 Gavin Casey LB Wantagh HS, Wantagh 6'2 230 3rd team all state class A as a junior
19 Jeremiah Sanders OL Bishop Timon-St Jude HS, Buffalo 6'2 265 First team All Western NY, first team USA Today All State as a sophomore
20 Matt Valecce ATH Fordham Prep, Bronx 6'5 205 All NYC 2nd team as a soph, 2416 yards 27 TDs passing, 2nd team class A all state as jr, Brown offer
21 Dan Fedor OL Southside HS, Elmira 6'7 286 Elmira All Offense as a sophomore
22 Chris Chernak DT Grand Street HS, Brooklyn 6'7 290 One of the biggest players in the state
23 Jake Stanko ATH Burnt Hills HS, Ballston Lake 6'1 200 3rd team all state class A as a junior
24 Matt Myers QB Bishop Timon-St Jude HS, Buffalo 6'4 205 Second team All Western NY as a sophomore
25 Will Loffredo WR Fordham Prep, Bronx 6'4 205 3rd team all state class A as a junior
26 Alex Benson ATH Kennedy Catholic, Somers 5'11 175 2nd team All Hudson Valley special teams as a sophomore, very fast
27 SirVocea Dennis ATH CBA HS, Syracuse 6'0 175 1st team All CNY as a sophomore
28 Logan Wilcox QB Proctor HS, Utica 6'1 185 1st team All CNY as a sophomore
29 Joe Benedict RB Sandy Creek, NY 6'2 205 Ran for over 400 yards in one game in 2016
30 Jason Rodriguez DB Corning PPE HS, Corning 6'1 160 Elmira All Defense first team as a sophomore
31 Casey Rogers LB Westhill HS, Westhill 6'4 240 SU lacrosse commit
32 Brett Makar RB Yorktown HS, Yorktown 6'1 183 2nd team class A all state as junior
33 Michael DeGasperis WR Iona Prep, White Plains 6'2 185 2nd team class A all state as junior
34 Chester Anderson ATH Elmont HS, Elmont 5'8 175 2nd team class A all state as junior
35 Nick Gargiulo OL Somers HS, Somers 6'5 270 2nd team class A all state as junior
36 Rayshauld Smith DB Eastridge HS, Rochester 6'0 185 3rd team all state class A as a junior
37 Ashton Bradley RB Sayville HS, Sayville 5'11 175 4th team all state class A as a junior
38 Eric Thompson III WR Lansingburgh HS, Albany 6'1 150 4th team all state class A as a junior
39 Miles Haynes LB McKinley HS, Buffalo 6'1 190 4th team all state class A as a junior
40 Antonio Vieira DB Somers HS, Somers 5'10 170 4th team all state class A as a junior
41 Tyler Ammirato RB Miller Place HS, Miller Place 5'11 160 5th team all state class A as a junior
42 Brandon Smith RB Indian River HS, Watertown 5'10 200 5th team all state class A as a junior
43 Rayshawn Boswell ATH Monroe/SWW HS, Rochester 5'9 185 5th team all state class A as a junior
44 Khadeem Richards ATH Monticello HS, Monticello 5'9 162 5th team all state class A as a junior
45 Anthony Robinson LB Starpoint HS, Lockport 5'11 230 5th team all state class A as a junior
46 Liam Maloney OT Holy Trinity HS, Troy 6'7 250 3rd team all state class C as a junior
47 Brenden Holcomb LB Cambridge HS, Cambridge 6'3 220 1st team all state class D as a junior
48 Nick Fabrizio LB Maple Grove HS, Bemus Point 6'2 205 1st team all state class D as a junior
49 Brock Blecha DB Franklinville/Ellicottville HS, Franklinville 6'1 175 1st team all state class D as a junior
50 Joseph Connor WR Bishop Ludden HS, Syracuse 6'3 185 2nd team all state class D as a junior
51 Khalil Horton UTL Lackawanna HS, Lackawanna 5'7 170 Second team All Western NY as a sophomore
 
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Do you believe in Horan that much? I have a Syracuse HS football bias, I think.
 
No. 31 on the list is incorrect,he is from Westhill,but a Jr. o-lineman from Marcellus did make 2nd.. team all-state this year Luke Norstad...6'2" 255

I had to correct Norstads from 1st. to 2nd. team as my kid told me he made 1st. team a few weeks back.
 
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Thanks for taking the time to compile that list.

You didnt put the McDuffie kid in there? Popcorn
 
Thanks for doing this each year Tomcat - always one of my favorite posts. Would be interesting to go back and see which kids from last year's version of this list ended up where. (wish I had time to do it)
 
Thanks for taking the time to compile that list.

You didnt put the McDuffie kid in there? Popcorn
His name somehow got replaced by Alex Benson in the initial post (#11). I have fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out. Also changed the HS for Rogers as per retro44's suggestion.

Luke Norstad didn't make my list. He is surely among the top 50 HS football players returning for 2018 in NYS but IMHO, he is not a D1 prospect, at least not at the BCS level.

As for Horan, first I love his tape, second, just getting a BCS level offer is sufficient for me to place him in the top 10. None of the guys after the top 4 have many offers, or any offers from top schools.

I say if Horan was in NJ, he would have 10 or 15 offers already. IMHO, there is a clear bias against football players from upstate NY in general and from CNY in particular right now.

In the end, I think NYS will produce 15-20 BCS level players. Not great but not awful for a state where so many sports are played and football gets so little emphasis.
 
I heard Gross didn't show well at the SU camp he attended last summer. Might have to show out at one this season.
 
I think we press for cruick, woods, Williams, and Anderson. We've done well before at Curtis and Tottenville.

I really like Paul woods
 
Let's give the 17 class its respect and attention. Plenty of time to talk about the 18 class. Geeez, the fax ink isnt even dry yet!:)
 
What???? You fiction guys are a bit off color:)
What's fiction? PSU currently has 10 commits in the '18 class. I am not concerned, and I don't think all of them stick either, but it's never too early to start thinking of the next class. There are offers out to the '19 class and probably the '20 as well. If a kid is good, he's good. If he's in a position of need, even better. Ultimately I think this thread is more about NYers hoping to see some local talent make it to the hill. None of it is disparaging to the '17 class.
 
What's fiction? PSU currently has 10 commits in the '18 class. I am not concerned, and I don't think all of them stick either, but it's never too early to start thinking of the next class. There are offers out to the '19 class and probably the '20 as well. If a kid is good, he's good. If he's in a position of need, even better. Ultimately I think this thread is more about NYers hoping to see some local talent make it to the hill. None of it is disparaging to the '17 class.

Whoa, just a reaction to njcuse's star wars post.
 
Whoa, just a reaction to njcuse's star wars post.
I know. It's all good, but I think it's OK for us recruitnicks to look at what could be next. I'll give you it's silly, but I think the potential everyone sees in the great class we just signed has everyone amped for more.
 
I heard Gross didn't show well at the SU camp he attended last summer. Might have to show out at one this season.
Interesting you heard that. Did well with limited reps he got at a crowded camp. He didn't do anything to hurt his stock. His 40 time wasn't the greatest. He ran a 4.6 at 190 pounds. He will get faster.
 
His name somehow got replaced by Alex Benson in the initial post (#11). I have fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out. Also changed the HS for Rogers as per retro44's suggestion.

Luke Norstad didn't make my list. He is surely among the top 50 HS football players returning for 2018 in NYS but IMHO, he is not a D1 prospect, at least not at the BCS level.

Sat with his parents at the team dinner and not much was discussed as far as his plans and can find out some soon though. But you can "Surely '' put him in the top 50 now if you so choose
scratching-head-smiley-emoticon.gif
 
Sat with his parents at the team dinner and not much was discussed as far as his plans and can find out some soon though. But you can "Surely '' put him in the top 50 now if you so choose
scratching-head-smiley-emoticon.gif
Can't do it. 6'2 260 junior OL just aren't big enough to be top 50 prospects. If you want to include him on your list, by all means go ahead.

No knock on Luke. Much respect for him and I hope he gets a full ride to a fine school. I am sure he will.
 
Weird year for NYS prospects. Overall, the class is pretty weak but I don't think NY has ever had a class with so many BCS level WR prospects.

Nice that Syracuse just happens to have the best WR friendly offense in the Northeast.


Who is Sean Ryan? Toad says he is arguably the top wide receiver in New York this year
 
Didn't see him on toms list. We should probably start his own thread, sorry to hijack this one
 
Didn't see him on toms list. We should probably start his own thread, sorry to hijack this one
I didn't list him because he didn't make All City or even All Brooklyn. IMHO, he isn't even the best WR on his HS team (his QB is).

Gridiron greats: 2016 All-Brooklyn football honors

The January 4th Hudl video is actually (I think) the highlight video of his junior season. I took a look. Really bad quality, amd it is hard to learn much when most of the film is of him catching jump balls against 5'8 CBs. But he has nice size and speed. Catching technique needs some work.

Really skinny, will have to hit the WR hard to get to BCS size. I like the guys SU has offered more.

He apparently has offers from BC and Rutgers. One site claims SU has offered him too. I don't believe that, but I guess it is possible.

After looking at his film, if I could do a do over, I would put him in my top 20. Right around #15. Definitely like Cooper more. Bigger, faster, stronger.
 
He's ok. He doesn't show the ability to catch down the field from the slot. Has ok speed but nothing like his team mate Cruikshank. Sean Ryan looks like a good possession WR. I question his speed though. If we are gonna grab any slots from NY it would be Amad Anderson or Cruishank. I think Anderson can play outside or inside. Nunez from Cardinal Hayes is dynamic but might be too small. Could Paul Woods (Canisius) fit in the slot?
 

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