I-Team: Ishaq Williams Down to Syracuse and Notre Dame
D.A. | Dec 23, 2010 | Comments 15
A Fizz source says that SU recruit Ishaq Williams has narrowed his college choice down to Notre Dame and Doug Marrone’s Syracuse Orange.
Right now, the highly ranked defensive end/tight end is operating with an official list of three, but those close to Ishaq, it’s now between the ‘Cuse and the Irish.
Williams will announce his college decision at halftime of the January 8th Army All-American game in San Antonio, TX.
It may come down to what defense Williams would rather play in. In a New York Post article, he claims he was ready to commit to the Irish after his official visit, and play in a 3-4 scheme.
Then Scott Shafer hit him with a snowball. No, I’m not kidding you, this may have kept him from going to South Bend.
“Syracuse offered more of a friendly family atmosphere with several other prospects on hand. While touring the upstate New York campus, in fact, defensive coordinator Scott Shafer hit Williams in the back of the head with a snowball.”
Surprisingly, this went over a little bit better than when Delone Carter got pelted. Shaun Williams on the moment:
“That is not textbook recruiting, but it’s about family. It came across as ‘You’re here, we love you, we want you.’ We really got the feeling that Syracuse would mortgage the farm on Ishaq and would make sure he succeeds on the field or off the field in case of injury.”
Phew.
In all seriousness, Williams and his father seem sold on the Life Skills program that Marrone teaches. The campus is close to home, and his parents are SU alums.
We wait, we wait, we wait. Until January 8th.
Posted: Ted Conroy
Filed Under: FB Recruiting • Featured
This is great news. Let’s hope and pray that this kid chooses Syracuse. It’s not just about a great recruit coming to Syracuse, its about a great recruit from New York State coming to Syracuse! We finally have an excellent blue-chipper in NYS and we’re going to let Notre Dame take him from us? NO WAY Syracuse, let’s make sure this kid stays here. I can understand if the kid were from Indiana and he chose Notre Dame, but not someone from our state. That would be ridiculous.
He is going to ND we need to get over it. If we were up against Rutgers, maybe…But not Notre Dame.
Rockne,
I wouldn’t assume so fast. It was about a year ago that one Max Beaulieu picked the Orange over UT and Nebraska.
Both of Ishaq’s parents are SU alums, and Brooklyn is a lot closer to Syracuse. Williams could legitimately choose Syracuse.
Great comments, and keep reading!
Conroy
You can’t say it would be rediculous to choose ND over Syracuse even if he’s from NY… Look at ND compared to Syracuse from a football stand point, it would almost be foolish to choose Syracuse. But best of luck to him wherever he ends up.
I went to Notre Dame undergrad (from Indiana) and Syracuse for grad school and I would possibly choose the latter. I love ND, but if my parents were living in NYS, wow, that drive sucks, and South Bend is an awful area away from the campus (not that that matters – Syracuse isn’t shangri-la either, but not quite as abysmal).
On the plus side Chicago is relatively close by. I wonder if all the nonsense on campus this semester involving the football program will dissuade Ishaq from choosing ND? It’s a win-win for me though whatever choice he makes.
I don’t agree with all of this “Notre Dame is a better pick then ‘Cuse” comments…ND isn’t the same football powerhouse. They get top recruits along the lines of Ohio st., ‘Bama, Florida, USC, etc. and havent appeared in a BCS Bowl since Brady Quinn was there. I guarantee he wouldn’t start at Notre Dame has a freshman. This pick up could get the wheels turning for future ‘Cuse recruits and i have a good feeling we pick him up. Besides i rather play in a defensive system like shafer’s.
“They get top recruits along the lines of Ohio st., ‘Bama, Florida, USC, etc.”
This means they’re a good coach away from being the same football powerhouse. They think they’ve found that coach.
“and havent appeared in a BCS Bowl since Brady Quinn was there”
That was only four years ago.
“I guarantee he wouldn’t start at Notre Dame has a freshman”
Notre Dame plays a 3-4 which means two outside linebackers on the field at a time. Fleming is back, and he’s the one ND coaches have been telling Williams to watch how he plays, he’s playing your position. Neal is gone, and another backer Brian Smith is gone. Current frosh Prince Shembo has gotten a lot of playing time as at OLB as a pass rusher. There’s no reason to believe Williams couldn’t start as a freshman early enrollee, and it seems very likely that if he didn’t start he’d still get significant playing time as a pass rush specialist.
He could pick either school, but those aren’t reasons he wouldn’t pick ND. If he chooses Syracuse it’s not for anything Notre Dame is lacking (including the area), it would simply be due to distance and family connections.
I think we can all agree on this; it would be a huge get for Marrone and co., should he come to SU.
Just to be in this race is a sign of progress by the staff.
Is ND better than SU right now? Semantics… But I can tell you I wouldn’t want to send anyone off the campus of Notre Dame. I did it calling Syracuse and Notre Dame lacrosse.. Outside of the college football hall of fame, there isn’t a whole lot going on.
The debate rages on; all of you are bringing great stuff to the table.
Conroy
The last big time recruit to choose SU over Notre Dame was Floyd Little .. check the records… Look how good that turned out….I think the kid picks SU. Why? He has a chance to leave a legacy at SU that could not be produced at Notre Dame. This kid is smart, his parent’s are smart and they know SU is the place for their son. As an Alum….. I say Welcome home Ishaq… Go Cuse.
Paul, thanks for putting me in place with my comments. Being an avid ‘Cuse fan i apologize for wanting a top recruit to come to Syracuse. You seem like an ND fan, and i apologize for my comments.
I have no problem with ND and being that this decision may come down to a coin flip, MY OPINION is that Ishaq would benefit more in our defensive system then he would at ND. I don’t need to know who is there, who left. I mean we could discuss the 4 star DE that has already committed to ND and the possibilty of ND picking up another 4 star DE in Ray Drew.
Bottomline is that i hope ‘Cuse wins this recruiting battle.
I think if you were to choose between the football progam and academics, Notre Dame wins. The only thing Syracuse has is that it is closer to home.
Plus you get to play on national TV every week with the Irish, Cuse not so much
Basically, it comes down to if he’d rather be a big fish in a small pond which is also close to home (Syracuse), OR he chooses to be in the limelight and dare to compete at the highest level, where the opponents and media coverage are at the top of the game.
Jake,
Is the Fizz not at the top of its game? Ha.
All jokes aside, aside from NBC and history, I’m not sure what else is keeping ND in everyone’s spotlight as a Florida, USC, or Texas. Since the Bush push, Notre Dame hasn’t been very successful.
I gotta think at some point that recruits will See South Bend for what it is (A Buffalo Wild Wings and The CFHOF.) I posit hay will happen when it’s time for Swarbeick to renegotiate that TV deal.
In the interim, Ishaq has a budding program in a city that is, believe it or not, ahead of the one in Indiana.
Merry Christmas!
Conroy
You actually wrote about several engaging points on this page. I came across this by searching Yahoo and I’ve got to confess that I am currently subscribed to the blog, it is extremely great (;
Syracuse hasn’t had a winning season in 5 years until this year… Their last bowl win was in 2001.
They had a home-state bowl game and didn’t even reach 75% of attendance! 53,325 seats were available, 39,240 people showed up to the game. That is down right embarassing, especially for a bowl game in your own state! Who would honestly want to play football there?