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Message: [QUOTE="CuseLegacy, post: 1281954, member: 469"] [SIZE=6][B]Millville's Jake Pickard commits to Syracuse amidst Wisconsin coaching changes[/B][/SIZE] [IMG]http://imgick.nj.com/home/njo-media/width960/img/njcom_photos/photo/2015/01/30/-c9e99d807881451c.jpg[/IMG] Sr. Millburn DE Jake Pickard with the Syracuse family (Photo courtesy of Pickard, used with permission) [URL='http://connect.nj.com/staff/Todderick/photos.html'][U]Todderick Hunt | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com[/U][/URL] By Todderick Hunt | NJ Advance Media on January 30, 2015 5:45 PM [URL='http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1767321/jake-pickard'][U]Jake Pickard[/U][/URL], the 6-5, 230-pound defensive end from [URL='http://highschoolsports.nj.com/school/millville-millville/football/'][U]Millville[/U][/URL] (N.J.), has switched his commitment from Wisconsin to Syracuse amidst coaching changes in Madison. "It was a lot of things," said Pickard, [URL='http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/2245124607360856563/football-recruiting-presenting-the-njcom-top-50-dec-10-update/'][U]a member of the NJ.com Top 50[/U][/URL]. "It was how close they are to home, but what it really boiled down to is the people there and what I think I can accomplish there because the staff is one of the greatest I've ever seen. "And at the end of the day, they are also just great people as opposed to just a great staff and the players are amazing. And just really the whole atmosphere around Cuse, it just felt like the right place for me." [URL='http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhighschoolsports.nj.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F370231545025656204%2Fjake-pickard-discusses-his-commitment-level-following-wisconsin-coaching-change%2F&ei=9AXMVO_MAYOfgwSAq4PgAg&usg=AFQjCNFh8_YInDjI0Go78j3SD-XkGW-n5g&sig2=1T3BARWS6nbqRXeGEMdkvg'][U]Although Pickard won't end up a Badger[/U][/URL], he still has respect for the program as well as the multiple others who thought enough of him to extend scholarship offers. "I will always be grateful for all the opportunities, everyone else who offered me, but specifically Wisconsin," he said. "They have a great program there and they are gonna be doing great things. But after the coaching change, I really just went back to Syracuse and looked at what I value most — the proximity to my house — and it was just so easy for me to get to my official. "I flew up, my parents drove up and it wasn't an issue," Pickard continued. "My family has really been a part of this whole process, so when it came down to it, that was one of the things that influenced my decision. But also just the people there." The[URL='http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/4461295165837342390/njcoms-2014-all-group-4-football/'][U] first-team All-Group 4 defender[/U][/URL] explained his role in his future defense. "They want me at strong defensive end," said Pickard. "We're gonna have the 4-3, 3-4 set and I'm just excited to get in there and do whatever needs to be done. Just get me on the field as soon as I'm ready, hopefully sooner rather than later, they said." [URL='http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDUQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhighschoolsports.nj.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F5505549171023905454%2Fjim-harbaugh-and-michigan-hosting-millburns-jake-pickard-on-an-official-visit%2F&ei=1wTMVKabDsyeggT_6oC4Aw&usg=AFQjCNGYxbgiMNwoHyJ8vf-DxRNlBF7Nfw&sig2=25mTkHP_BdBGvUAq0yXqRA'][U]Despite recently receiving a Michigan offer[/U][/URL], Pickard took the challenge to help catapult a Syracuse defense that experienced vast success in 2014. "They had a very, very good defense," said Pickard. "They are one of only four defenses to allow less than 10 rushing touchdowns, so I'm just excited to join that and help push the defense to new levels. And hopefully our offense follows suit and we are able to land an ACC championship." Pickard is the third player from New Jersey's 2015 recruiting class currently committed to Syracuse, joining South Brunswick athlete Dontae Strickland and Don Bosco cornerback Daivon Ellison. [/QUOTE]

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