Insider Trading: SU’s Washington Helping Recruit FL QB Asiantii Woulard
D.A. | May 24, 2012 | Comments 6
Rivals.com
Syracuse’s aggressive search for a dual threat quarterback has picked up another target after 4-star Asiantii Woulard (Winter Park, Fla.) de-committed from USF last month. Woulard originally gave the Bulls the nod in February, but decided afterward that he rushed to a decision.
“First of all, the decision to commit, I felt it was premature. But I felt kind of pressured by what my coaches were telling me, how schools will take one quarterback, maybe two, so I should just go ahead and commit right away.”
The Orange have an ally on the recruiting trail to nab Woulard. The 6’4”, 205-pounder attended Winter Park High with 2012 Syracuse LB commit James Washington. Woulard is ranked the 7th best dual-threat QB in the Sunshine State. With USF so close to home, it seemed like a lock until AW decided otherwise.
Saying a program has a “family feel” is often cliche. But it’s literal on the Hill since the Orange has so many current players working on bringing in their family and friends. Nick Provo’s younger brother Tyler just committed. The Brooklyn boys are working hard on their teammates and best friends. Wayne Morgan has been open in trying to hook “the Package Deal.“ And now a pair of Florida kids are networking.
Once again, Doug Marrone finds himself in a race with bigger programs for a signal-caller. Ole Miss crashed the offer party Wednesday, but the Rebels aren’t unbeatable even though they’re closer to home and in the SEC. Ole Miss went just 2-10 last year, and had only one FBS win over Fresno State. Also in the running for Woulard are Cincinatti, Pitt, Boston College, Memphis, Florida A&M, and Central Florida. But SU may have a trump card in Washington, who says he’s been talking to Woulard about SU.
“Yes, I’ve been convincing him to come to join me in the ‘Cuse.”
Syracuse has had plenty of Orange players doing some valuable networking for the school recently. This is the payout from HCDM’s diligent job in trying to form a Florida pipeline. One domino can often lead to the next one falling. If The Dougie can nab Woulard from under the nose of Ole Miss, it would be a big victory for a school that’s raising the bar on the recruiting trail.
SU may also be the right school for AW for the exact reason South Florida wasn’t. Bulls coaches are telling him he needs to be the first QB offered at any given school, but the past few weeks have been a quarterback full-court press for the Orange and SU landed Austin Wilson. That just means the Orange isn’t sure about its long term future at quarterback. So there’s plenty of opportunity at Syracuse for a dual-threat athlete who can bring the heat under center and win games.
Speaking of bringing the heat, Asiantii does just that. In a game against Orlando University last fall, Woulard threw for 4 TDs and ran for another one. He’s big and getting bigger as he adds more weight to his frame, and scouts say he’s very tough to tackle. Sounds like a lot like the scouting report on Ashton Broyld.
SU may have to fend off an SEC team to land this four-star talent, but Marrone has an ally in one of his players making the sales pitch as well. Let the games begin.
Posted: Jake Moskowitz
Filed Under: FB Recruiting • Featured
In the minds of some and an error IMO Ashton Broyls is being written off as atop candidate for the Orange Quarterback position. Way too early for that determination AB is a classic dual threat QB and given some time this coming season will emerge at that position.
I can’t wait to see what Broyld can do, but in my mind you can never have too much competition at the QB position. The thing about Broyld too is that he’s such an excellent all around athlete, so he can do work for us at other positions too. I think Broyld will be a great slot receiver for us.
I really like the idea of him at QB though. A guy of his size and ability will frustrate defenses all day long and until our o-line matures a bit, a QB with escapability is really important. Nassib has shown it once or twice, but not nearly enough. I think we need to give Broyld a series each half to mix up the offense a bit.
Great article,it’s nice to know that the kids already committed is also talking to friends trying to get them to come to Syracuse to play football.
It’s nice to find out that we’re in the hunt for some top recruits at any position, but I’m a little concerned about Terrel Hunt who is a dual threat quarterback that’s already on our squad. Loading the team with 4 star players is nice and I’m sure that by doing so will bring problems that we haven’t seen at Syracuse in a long long time.
I’m sure that coach Marrone knows what he’s doing and I want to wish him luck in bringing top talent here. If he gets this dual threat quarterback from Florida to come here, then I believe that the flood gates will open and ther 4 & 5 star players will follow.
GO CUSE
Chris, I think it’s a perfectly fair opinion you have, but I get the idea that Marrone would prefer to use Broyld at another position if possible. His athletic ability doesn’t come around often, and he’s a project at QB. Not saying he won’t be a three-year starter at qb beginning next year, but the fact that Marrone is bringing in two qbs this class suggests a lack of faith in at least Hunt and Kinder. I think it also shows that he wants Broyld as a wr or rb, somewhere that he can be a legit playmaker.
Agree with bgogo. Why put in the extra work to mold Broyld into a pure passer when it’s much easier to have him apply his natural athleticism running or catching the ball?
I think in this case the “Dougie” know’s what he’s doing…AB is not a qb!!..but he’s athletic enough to dominate at S-CB or OLB…on offense TE or FLanker,he appear’s quite instinctive but not cerebral…put him in position to wing it!