Kill, Crush, Destroy: Omari Palmer Aims for Destruction on Syracuse O-Line
D.A. | Jun 12, 2012 | Comments 7
Both literally and figuratively, hulking 6’3” 315 lbs. OL Omari Palmer was one of the biggest stars of this weekend’s Upstate-Downstate Classic at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse’s incoming lineman from Long Island whipped up pancakes all afternoon as he dominated the Upstate defensive line in a thrilling 27-23 victory. Omari’s formula for success is simple.
“Kill, crush, destroy”
Peter Chen/Post-Standard
The future Orange muscle will solve a simple problem for the offensive game: keeping the quarterback upright. The O-Line struggled at times last season, and a big body with the ferocity of Palmer should help the transition to an inexperienced signal-caller following Ryan Nassib. Doug Marrone is at heart a big ugly too, and he’s already shopping for more immovable bodies in Alex Officer.
Palmer also proved his humility Sunday. Despite his monster game, he admitted there’s more to work on.
“I could do better. I have to work on my steps, staying lower, extending my legs. I have stuff to improve. There is always something to do so you can get better.”
There wasn’t a need for much improve much of anything this weekend, that’s for sure. He owned the trenches for Downstate, and his fundamentals were extremely polished. No surprise the tackle also has strict discipline in his summer workout plans.
“[I’m working on] my body. I want to lose a couple pounds and get stronger, faster and get my conditioning up. And after that, I want to work on my technique.”
While Palmer sounds like all business, he always keeps it light and entertaining when you speak with him.. He becomes a fierce competitor on the field. Syracuse’s huddle won’t lack for a colorful personality with Omari.
Palmer was supposed to be blocking for fellow Orange signee Devante McFarlane all game, but the Downstate RB injured his right shoulder on his first and only carry of the afternoon, a 15-yard gain. Luckily the injury wasn’t serious. Devante acknowledged in any other game he would have came back in to play. But in an exhibition there was no reason to risk coming back.
The line’s future is bright with Palmer as a building block. The lineman needs to convert more of his weight into muscle, and one day soon he will be protecting the SU blind side. And soon enough, Marrone will be getting unlimited helpings of pancakes of all season.
Posted: Kevin Fitzgerald
I’m real happy that Omari Palmer decided to come here to play. With his size and strenght on the OL will make thing a lot better.
Ebenezer Ogundeko has narrowed his list to three schools,Syracuse, Notre Dame and Florida. It looks like Syracuse is in the mix with the big boys again. With Wayne Morgan’s help I believe that Syracuse has got to be the front runner here and has a better than 33% chance of landing him.
If he does come, I also believe that Ebenezer will be the recruit that opens the door for others that will allow others to come here to play.
What say you?
GO CUSE
I love the new bigs. Palmer on o-line and WIlliams on d-line. It’s going to be fun watching these guys knock some heads off.
If we bring in Ogundeko that would be HUUUUGE! …not just for getting him on D, but it also likely means getting another great back in our stable with Edwards. You can never have too much depth at running back. And hey, it can’t hurt to have our name in the mix with the big boys like Notre Dame and Florida, especially when you have schools like Alabama interested in this kid.
Yeah,it looks like things might improve…I did’nt even know the upstate-downstate game was on except by mistake I noticed it on the menu on TW…who was that downstate QB with the sweet arm?He looked better than Laviano??he had a Slavic name but they kept changing players…he had bigtime look to him…is he committed?qualified?I hope we take a look at him if available!!
Yeah that kid (QB) is committed to Rutgers. Downstate actually went with another QB more than that kid. But he did have a good arm for sure.
Notre Dame has beaten us twice already to the biggest DL prospects in NY (Ishaq and Jaron), as much as I hope we get Ogundeko I fear the Irish will beat us out yet again.
Thanks Norma…figures they would end up with him…Dougie missed on that one…no wonder they seemed to be hiding him!!
Palmer will be such a great addition to the O-line the next few years.
Also, on the subject of Ogundeko, Syracuse probably has a better shot at landing him, than they did guys like Ishaq or Jarron. Yes they’re still up against the big dogs in ND and Florida. But neither of those schools have offered Augustus Edwards!