Hindsight 20/20 - Latavius Murray Edition

[44PRIDE]

So, we ended up passing on Latavius Murray twice during his recruitment. First was out of high school and second was after his knee injury.

Here is our 2009 RB roster
3 Delone Carter RB 5-10 215 Sr. Copley, OH / Copley Senior
27 Averin Collier RB 5-10 195 So. Rochester, N.Y. / Churchville-Chili HS
29 Antwon Bailey RB 5-8 193 So. Landover, MD / St. John's College High School
37 Mike Jones RB 5-11 202 So. Middletown, PA / Bishop McDevitt HS

Here is our 2010 RB roster:
3 Delone Carter RB 5-10 215 R-Sr. Copley, Ohio / Copley Senior
23 Prince-Tyson Gulley RB 5-9 178 Fr. Akron, Ohio / Garfield Senior HS
29 Antwon Bailey RB 5-8 192 Jr. Landover, MD / St. John's College High School
45 Jerome Smith RB 6-0 210 Fr. Bear, Del. / Pencader Charter

The question is simple. Did Syracuse miss the mark by not recruiting LM, or did we simply have too many good players at the position to extend an offer?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

We did offer him.

His father lived in Orlando.

He wasn't coming here.

 

[44PRIDE]

Not according to this...
http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2009/08/syracuse_football_program_deci.html

Murray said he found out two days ago through his high school coach, Jason Ryan, that the Orange had decided not to recruit him. A Syracuse assistant coach called Murray Friday and told him he could walk on the team but that the school would not be extending a scholarship offer.

"Disappointed. Disappointed," Murray said. "I would have liked to have come home and played for the home town and try and be a part of this rebuilding. But you know what? It was their decision. What happens, happens."​

 

[SU94]

Not according to this...
http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2009/08/syracuse_football_program_deci.html

Murray said he found out two days ago through his high school coach, Jason Ryan, that the Orange had decided not to recruit him. A Syracuse assistant coach called Murray Friday and told him he could walk on the team but that the school would not be extending a scholarship offer.

"Disappointed. Disappointed," Murray said. "I would have liked to have come home and played for the home town and try and be a part of this rebuilding. But you know what? It was their decision. What happens, happens."​

Correct. Lots of fans on this site believed this was more than likely a Marrone choice made in deference to his long-time friend (and perhaps former coach, not sure), George O'Leary, who was UCF's head coach at the time.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

He was offered a scholarship while he was still in HS in 2007.

After he tore up his knee at UCF and wanted to transfer, SU didn't want to use a scholarship on someone that wouldn't even be able to play in 2009 (hence the walk-on offer).

 

[sutomcat]

We did offer him.

His father lived in Orlando.

He wasn't coming here.

We need to do something about keeping the fathers of great football players from Onondaga from leaving the area after siring their future stud RB sons.

Joanie. Get on it. Please.

 

[SUGIANT]

So, we ended up passing on Latavius Murray twice during his recruitment. First was out of high school and second was after his knee injury.

Here is our 2009 RB roster
3 Delone Carter RB 5-10 215 Sr. Copley, OH / Copley Senior
27 Averin Collier RB 5-10 195 So. Rochester, N.Y. / Churchville-Chili HS
29 Antwon Bailey RB 5-8 193 So. Landover, MD / St. John's College High School
37 Mike Jones RB 5-11 202 So. Middletown, PA / Bishop McDevitt HS

Here is our 2010 RB roster:
3 Delone Carter RB 5-10 215 R-Sr. Copley, Ohio / Copley Senior
23 Prince-Tyson Gulley RB 5-9 178 Fr. Akron, Ohio / Garfield Senior HS
29 Antwon Bailey RB 5-8 192 Jr. Landover, MD / St. John's College High School
45 Jerome Smith RB 6-0 210 Fr. Bear, Del. / Pencader Charter

The question is simple. Did Syracuse miss the mark by not recruiting LM, or did we simply have too many good players at the position to extend an offer?

I really wish you'd change that profile picture...

 

[FAL]

I really wish you'd change that profile picture...

It's a basketball thing...

 

[tep624]

He was offered a scholarship while he was still in HS in 2007.

After he tore up his knee at UCF and wanted to transfer, SU didn't want to use a scholarship on someone that wouldn't even be able to play in 2009 (hence the walk-on offer).

Yep.

 

[MG44]

I ask this because I have zero football knowledge.
Were guys like Latavious Murray, and Dorsey Levins sure fire things coming out of high school?

Or is NYS high school so weak that these guys go away and dont get really good till they get a few years in a real football program?

 

[ForCuseSake]

I ask this because I have zero football knowledge.
Were guys like Latavious Murray, and Dorsey Levins sure fire things coming out of high school?

Or is NYS high school so weak that these guys go away and dont get really good till they get a few years in a real football program?

There is no comparison between Levens and Murray.

Dorsey was a national recruit - Parade All American who was also all state in hoops. He would've stayed at ND had he not injured his knee.

Holtz basically dumped his ass after the knee injury so Levens transferred to Ga Tech (fresh off their shared national title).

Murray is a great RB but nowhere near Dorsey's level coming outta HS.

Edit - I didn't quite answer your question but the two examples are a little difficult to compare. Levens was a can't miss prospect. Murray was solid; but not as successful at the HS level as Levens.