Syracuse perception to recruits

[Finwad32]

I've been noticing that in more than a couple articles involving Syracuse's current recruits our perception to them has changed. In years past you'd hear a lot of "up and coming" comments, a product of the coaches pitch, as well as "I don't know much about them."

Now, I'm hearing "great production; putting guys in the NFL and steadily rising." I'm not trying to say we've turned a huge corner, even though I think we've steadily improved regardless of records over the past four seasons. All I'm saying is the nonstop coverage of Ryan Nassib, regardless of where he fell to, as well as Pugh and Shamarko to an extent, has had a lasting impression on recruits. It's amazing to me. It's not the Dwight Freeney's or McNabb's but moreso the Chan Jones, Pugh and Nassib's that are doing it.

I think a combination of the primetime games (USC's, Penn State's,etc.) regardless of location, winning seasons and bowl games and media coverage (due to Marrone's decision and our Draft fortune) has put us in the light more than we have been since the 1990's. Capitalizing on this while the iron is hot is huge, and I believe we are. I'm thrilled with the recruits we've already seen commits from and the prospects we're after. Regardless of ranking, we're getting sought after recruits. I know some will argue that reported offers to recruiting sites aren't accurate, I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, but what I do know is that in a four year period our recruits offer sheets have changed significantly. We're now in battles that unless there was a special circumstance, we weren't in before.

This is a little bit of a run on, but I have the day off and can't golf right now. What do you guys think? Even though we don't have a ton of commits right now, I think we'll be very happy with the quality of this years class. I love Sykes and Moskal. Think we have a great chance with KJ Williams and Holmes. Cabinda, Clock and Mavety would be very nice gets IMO. And everybody I just mentioned we have a very legitimate shot with. Not to mention there's some talent in Rochester this year that I like that I hope we can reel in. I don't know how NYC areas pan out this year but I'll take a mixed bag of MidWest, Southeast and Penn/MD/NJ anyway.

I'm very optimistic with our recruiting this year, agreed?

 

[ImperialOrange]

I think you nailed quite a bit of it. I like the way our guys are going after recruits as well. We aren't an "A list" football school currently but we've moved from D list ~8 years ago to C list ~ 4 years ago and are now up on the B list. A lot of these guys we're after now are choosing between being a top recruit at a B list school vs a being a fall back option at an A list school.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

I think you nailed quite a bit of it. I like the way our guys are going after recruits as well. We aren't an "A list" football school currently but we've moved from D list ~8 years ago to C list ~ 4 years ago and are now up on the B list. A lot of these guys we're after now are choosing between being a top recruit at a B list school vs a being a fall back option at an A list school.

So in other words- there's tremendous value in going 7 and 5 for a couple of years with C list players.

A slow, steady build can create a strong foundation.

 

[Finwad32]

So in other words- there's tremendous value in going 7 and 5 for a couple of years with C list players.

A slow, steady build can create a strong foundation.

Agreed, the slow steady build has paid dividends to our foundation. Depth may not be where we want it but there's no denying that we are bigger, stronger and faster now than we were for awhile. Not to say we didn't have certain guys here and there, but the entirety of the group is much better overall IMO.

 

[ImperialOrange]

So in other words- there's tremendous value in going 7 and 5 for a couple of years with C list players.

A slow, steady build can create a strong foundation.

I think we're at a point where we're fighting for A listers and landing a fait amount of B listers vs fighting for B listers and landing a fair amoutn of C listers if that makes sense. We're not landing all of our A listers but we're getting there especially with the commits we've already nabbed this year.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Agreed, the slow steady build has paid dividends to our foundation. Depth may not be where we want it but there's no denying that we are bigger, stronger and faster now than we were for awhile. Not to say we didn't have certain guys here and there, but the entirety of the group is much better overall IMO.

I actually look at our current roster and think we finally have great depth at all but a few positions. DE is the obvious numbers wise, S is a ? but we've got guys athletic enough just a bit unknown, and WR you'd like to see a couple sure things there and we've got West and ?'s at this point. The other guys are capable @ WR but it is yet to be seen who seperates themself from the pack at this point.

 

[Cuse'91]

Hopefully we are close to where that dork Kirk Herbstreit can no longer ridicule us on national tv... I still can picture that loser constantly over throwing Joey Galloway in the Hall of Fame Bowl...

 

[Nick44]

The other key to this formula is being able to target those "under the radar" type kids that Marrone/staff did an excellent job of. Those guys that should have been 4-stars but were 2/3-stars and therefore weren't recruited by the elites. He may not have ended up always securing there commitment but he sure as heck was able to find them. Guys like Brandon Reddish, Dyshawn Davis and George Morris III (presumably). They also targeted guys like Nduka Onyeali, David Perkins, Akeel Lynch etc. that either have or will be great players.

I think this year that guy is WR Steve Ishmael. While he does have a ton of nice offers, he has that 3 star label and isn't considered a national recruit...yet. The staff would love to secure his commitment before he's considered an elite recruit.

 

[texascpa]

And if Drew is as good as advertised and he is NFL-caliber as some writers have stated, then we may hear a lot more SU mentions come draft day next year.

I'll bet most recruits watch a little college ball here and there (many have games on Saturdays), but they most watch a lot of the draft.

 

[CaliCuse]

I've been noticing that in more than a couple articles involving Syracuse's current recruits our perception to them has changed. In years past you'd hear a lot of "up and coming" comments, a product of the coaches pitch, as well as "I don't know much about them."

Now, I'm hearing "great production; putting guys in the NFL and steadily rising." I'm not trying to say we've turned a huge corner, even though I think we've steadily improved regardless of records over the past four seasons. All I'm saying is the nonstop coverage of Ryan Nassib, regardless of where he fell to, as well as Pugh and Shamarko to an extent, has had a lasting impression on recruits. It's amazing to me. It's not the Dwight Freeney's or McNabb's but moreso the Chan Jones, Pugh and Nassib's that are doing it.

I think a combination of the primetime games (USC's, Penn State's,etc.) regardless of location, winning seasons and bowl games and media coverage (due to Marrone's decision and our Draft fortune) has put us in the light more than we have been since the 1990's. Capitalizing on this while the iron is hot is huge, and I believe we are. I'm thrilled with the recruits we've already seen commits from and the prospects we're after. Regardless of ranking, we're getting sought after recruits. I know some will argue that reported offers to recruiting sites aren't accurate, I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, but what I do know is that in a four year period our recruits offer sheets have changed significantly. We're now in battles that unless there was a special circumstance, we weren't in before.

This is a little bit of a run on, but I have the day off and can't golf right now. What do you guys think? Even though we don't have a ton of commits right now, I think we'll be very happy with the quality of this years class. I love Sykes and Moskal. Think we have a great chance with KJ Williams and Holmes. Cabinda, Clock and Mavety would be very nice gets IMO. And everybody I just mentioned we have a very legitimate shot with. Not to mention there's some talent in Rochester this year that I like that I hope we can reel in. I don't know how NYC areas pan out this year but I'll take a mixed bag of MidWest, Southeast and Penn/MD/NJ anyway.

I'm very optimistic with our recruiting this year, agreed?

I would add the positive comments about the coaches and how much the kids like them which is very critical when leaving home into a strange new environment.

 

[anomander]

I have a feeling June will be a huge month for us. I have a feeling we are going to get a few guys we are going hard after, but it will also be critical that we continue to identify the under the radar kids the old staff made a living off.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

I think a combination of the primetime games (USC's, Penn State's,etc.) regardless of location, winning seasons and bowl games and media coverage (due to Marrone's decision and our Draft fortune) has put us in the light more than we have been since the 1990's.

We've had some nice national TV wins the past two seasons.

Pitt - 2012 - ESPN 7pm (14-13)
UConn - 2012 - ESPN 8pm (40-10)
Louisville - 2012 - ABC 12pm (45-36)
West Virginia - 2012 - ESPN 3:15pm (38-14)
West Virginia - 2011 - ESPN 8pm (49-23)

 

[tep624]

Two recruits that will take us a long way as far as perception are KJ Williams and Chad Mavety. If we can land them, and relatively early in the cycle, it's going to do nothing but help us in closing this class out strong. Mavety is the national level recruit I feel we have the best shot with right now all things considered and Williams is an early offer to Michigan which is nothing to sneeze at these days.

If we land those two and Ishmael over the course of the next couple of months I'll be ecstatic.

 

[Finwad32]

I actually look at our current roster and think we finally have great depth at all but a few positions. DE is the obvious numbers wise, S is a ? but we've got guys athletic enough just a bit unknown, and WR you'd like to see a couple sure things there and we've got West and ?'s at this point. The other guys are capable @ WR but it is yet to be seen who seperates themself from the pack at this point.

Good point, DE is scary as confident as I am in Welsh and Robinson and S's may be a bit undersized as a unit but there's a few I think will be very solid in Eskridge and Morgan. WR I would say I'm disappointed in b/c I liked a lot of these guys out of high school. But, I'd argue that there wasn't a ton of opportunity for the Flemmings, Fosters and Hales of the world and injury hasn't helped any of them. And I'm still excited about Lewis and Cornelius as well as the incoming recruits but it's certainly a question mark. But at the end of the day I like the reinforcements on the way in, fwiw, and am confident.

 

[Finwad32]

And if Drew is as good as advertised and he is NFL-caliber as some writers have stated, then we may hear a lot more SU mentions come draft day next year.

I'll bet most recruits watch a little college ball here and there (many have games on Saturdays), but they most watch a lot of the draft.

Agreed the NFL Draft has become Primetime and it seems that all of these kids are paying attention.

I like Drew, but in watching the HS films that were on here the other day, their games were pretty similar with Hunt being IMO the better athlete. Now Drew has 4 years of experience in a top flight program to Terrell's 2 but I like Terrell. Not that I don't want to see Drew succeed but if I was guaranteed the same win total with either QB I'd take Hunt for the obvious reason of more eligibility. I think this competition will be a lot closer than people think.

 

[Finwad32]

I have a feeling June will be a huge month for us. I have a feeling we are going to get a few guys we are going hard after, but it will also be critical that we continue to identify the under the radar kids the old staff made a living off.

I'd love to see the recruiting that our commits right now are doing snowball. And June has typically been a big month for us if I'm not mistaken. Also, I heavily agree with both of you that it's extremely important for a program like us to continue to identify the under the radar kids.

 

[Finwad32]

We've had some nice national TV wins the past two seasons.

Pitt - 2012 - ESPN 7pm (14-13)
UConn - 2012 - ESPN 8pm (40-10)
Louisville - 2012 - ABC 12pm (45-36)
West Virginia - 2012 - ESPN 3:15pm (38-14)
West Virginia - 2011 - ESPN 8pm (49-23)

Some very nice wins, 2012 especially.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Good point, DE is scary as confident as I am in Welsh and Robinson and S's may be a bit undersized as a unit but there's a few I think will be very solid in Eskridge and Morgan. WR I would say I'm disappointed in b/c I liked a lot of these guys out of high school. But, I'd argue that there wasn't a ton of opportunity for the Flemmings, Fosters and Hales of the world and injury hasn't helped any of them. And I'm still excited about Lewis and Cornelius as well as the incoming recruits but it's certainly a question mark. But at the end of the day I like the reinforcements on the way in, fwiw, and am confident.

WR's a safeties are young PT wise at this point. They could be stars in the making but they weren't going to get burn over Lemon, Sales, and Shamarko. DE really hurts losing MPB but Welsh has been a revalation thus far and Robinson is continuing his solid trajectory. They can't run those 2 DE's every play though so I'm curious what the coaches will do. We do have JUCO's on the way though, as well as Sugar bear, and some DT's that could slide outside so a bit of creativity could go a long way.

Time will tell but DE is the key to our D being pretty good or bordeling great this year. IF they can get a solid pass rush our young safeties won't be hung out in coverage and able to ball hawk a lot more. I love our LB's in terms of talent and numbers to clean up behind our exceptional DT's.

 

[Finwad32]

WR's a safeties are young PT wise at this point. They could be stars in the making but they weren't going to get burn over Lemon, Sales, and Shamarko. DE really hurts losing MPB but Welsh has been a revalation thus far and Robinson is continuing his solid trajectory. They can't run those 2 DE's every play though so I'm curious what the coaches will do. We do have JUCO's on the way though, as well as Sugar bear, and some DT's that could slide outside so a bit of creativity could go a long way.

Time will tell but DE is the key to our D being pretty good or bordeling great this year. IF they can get a solid pass rush our young safeties won't be hung out in coverage and able to ball hawk a lot more. I love our LB's in terms of talent and numbers to clean up behind our exceptional DT's.

Trejo and Marona are coming into a great situation for themselves and Sugar Bear is making a selfless decision that could pay big dividends. I think Markus Coleman can slide out and get some work on the outside. We definitely need a rush to take some of the onus off our secondary. And agreed, I love the linebacking core, wouldn't mind seeing any of them on the field really.

 

[syr02esq]

I think more than a few of us have posted that "winning cures all problems."

 

[RMH44]

Good point, DE is scary as confident as I am in Welsh and Robinson and S's may be a bit undersized as a unit but there's a few I think will be very solid in Eskridge and Morgan. WR I would say I'm disappointed in b/c I liked a lot of these guys out of high school. But, I'd argue that there wasn't a ton of opportunity for the Flemmings, Fosters and Hales of the world and injury hasn't helped any of them. And I'm still excited about Lewis and Cornelius as well as the incoming recruits but it's certainly a question mark. But at the end of the day I like the reinforcements on the way in, fwiw, and am confident.

Fyi, Foster has left the team.

 

[anomander]

Two recruits that will take us a long way as far as perception are KJ Williams and Chad Mavety. If we can land them, and relatively early in the cycle, it's going to do nothing but help us in closing this class out strong. Mavety is the national level recruit I feel we have the best shot with right now all things considered and Williams is an early offer to Michigan which is nothing to sneeze at these days.

If we land those two and Ishmael over the course of the next couple of months I'll be ecstatic.

i'm with you on KJ and Mavety. Sounds like KJ could make a verbal relatively soon, but I have a feeling Mavety is going the distance. He actually has an official scheduled with Ohio St in November I believe. Either way I don't mind going the distance with him with our name still being involved. It will just gain more national exposure, plus give Ohio St and Bama longer to fill their needs at OT. I really believe at very worst we will have a hat on the table when it comes to him. But while we wait that out having KJ on our commit list will only enhance our reputation. We would have two 4 star recruits, and another highly regarded LB recruit. Kids will want to join in on a class like that.