Going for Gold: Could Brooklyn RB Laray Smith Bring His Track Speed to SU?
D.A. | Aug 12, 2012 | Comments 27
SILive.com
Running back Laray Smith landed on The Fizz radar back in April as a top New York prospect, and the explosive Brooklyn running back favors Syracuse to land him. Smith visited the Hill last weekend and says Doug Marrone’s squad has the edge right now. The 6’1″ 185 lb. speedster has gotten offers from 7 schools, but has indicated SU, UConn, and Tennessee make up his top three. However, Smith says an offer from top program Oregon is on the way, which could put Syracuse out of the running.
An all-purpose running back, Laray put together a phenomenal junior season, rushing for 993 yards with a crazy 7 yards per carry average. He’ll be a senior at Xaverian HS and serves as a team captain. Another compelling piece of his resume is a well-earned spot at the USATF Junior Olympics. The Orange, as well has the Huskies and Volunteers, have offered Smith the opportunity to run track in the off-season during his college tenure.
But here come the Ducks. Smith believes an offer is “real close” from Oregon. He had the chance to speak with some of the track staff after he earned All-American honors at the Junior Olympics. Smith said it wouldn’t be accurate to say Oregon is his leading candidate if an offer does come his way. But this should have SU’s staff worried. Oregon is consistently a top program in the nation, and famously has some of the top facilities in the nation. SU will have to play a strong hand, including the ACC card, if the Ducks offer.
Marrone could extend the pipeline even further with the addition of Smith. It was only fitting that Smith’s tour guides around campus were his childhood buddies Wayne Morgan and Alvin Cornelius. Getting a feel for the university obviously was the goal for Smith, and he told the NY Post that the local connection helped:
“They gave me good advice. They were able to show me a good time, show me around the school.”
Smith has admitted his fear of loneliness if he decides on Tennessee or potentially Oregon. It was a “relief” that he knew some guys at SU to direct his visit. He spoke to Nation of Orange in late June about finding his comfort zone:
“It would make me feel a lot more comfortable to play with people I’ve been playing with all my life. That’s a big factor because I wouldn’t mind going far to a school but I also want to feel comfortable. So if I was going to go to a school far away like Oregon or Tennessee, I would want to feel comfortable. Knowing Syracuse, I already feel comfortable and I haven’t even been there knowing half the kids.”
Laray went out of his way to praise the new training facilities and of course the reputable coaching staff at SU. But Chip Kelly and company are formulating an offer out of Oregon, one Smith may not be able to decline. The race has already started to land the speedy back, and the Orange better hurry before Smith becomes a Duck in an unreachable pond.
Posted: Brendan Glasheen
Filed Under: FB Recruiting • Featured
Laray and Officer are the most important recruits still out there for SU. Smith brings that kind of Reggie Bush speed that Marrone had as a weapon in N.O., but hasn’t yet been able to lure to SU. He’d complement Broyld, Funderburk, Cornelius and the backfield extremely well, creating a whole new diminsion to this offense. The article makes it seem like he would surely commit to Oregon if offered, but I’m not sure that’s the case. At SU he’d play all four years, have friends around him, and find a gratitude from fans in NYC and Syracuse. Really hope we get him.
His size/speed combo is intriguing! Oregon tries to field all speed at skills positions, so its no surprise they like the kid. World class speed usually brings Texas, LSU, Fla type programs? Glad he liked his time here on the visit, and LO hosted him…thats a good look! Wonder if Smith or Edwards would switch to wr, the size/speed is there?
Big Dip i would like to extend ur comment of speed at all skill positions to all offense. Chip Kelly makes a point to recruit linemen that are durable and able to run their system from an athletic standpoint.
Its way to early to tell which recruits are the most important at this point but I definitely like all our commitments besides Wilson and Hodge, I feel like those 2 won’t come in and contend/vie for playing time right away they feel more of as depth and backups then guys like Diabate, Broyld, or Reddish who come in and make themselves to good to keep off the field. I think it is clear that Allen eventually becomes our guy with Broyld being the wildcat, however I’m not sure where that leaves Hunt and Kinder.
The most important recruits are: Wide receivers (next year we will feel the loss without Sales and Lemon, Kobena and Funderbunk are good but need compliments) Defensive Tackles (Transition of Goggins hurts and Boatman leaving doesn’t ease that, Williams and maybe one more will really help) OT (You would love to think Pugh would stay but he is 3rd team all american he is probably gone and Alexander on the other side is a senior tackle talent is a must) You would love to snag Smith and Ogundeko but Officer at this point is I dare say equally as valuable to the improvement of Syracuse based on need than Ogundeko
Geez,thanks Dipper or Id still be in the previous thread…I knew ya would’nt let me down!!!LOL..Man o man I was Lost in Space HaHa…trying to respond and the Olympics on I get carried away..
@CDL,why did’nt ya tell me their was a new thread?Never mind I should know better.HaHa..after all you found it..
I think Laray Smith would also make a great S/CB not to mention wr as Dipper mentioned.We can never get enough size or speed.
We better be concerned about Pitt with OL Officer as coach Chryst was famous at UW for developing O-linemen!!
Guys all these option’s,its hard to believe in one year theirs so much optimism and potential.Slowly,subtlely the transformation is amazing.Let’s hope were not getting carried away in our own little world?
The “ACC” card”? How about the #44 card? Give Laray another reason for Laray to stay closer to home.Send Tyrone to NY with a #44video and sit down with him to watch it.All hands on deck for this kid.
I believe that Syracuse has another 10/14 more scholarships to hand out for 2013. Getting 2 out of the 3 or maybe all 3 of the recruits from Georgia plus the big OL from Florida and Leray Smith would be huge for the program. I honestly feel that Ebenezer Ogundeko and Alex Officer are done deals and both will become members of the Orange in 2013.
Add these young men to what we have already committed, Syracuse would end up with a top 10/12 ranked class in 2013.
Things are really looking up fella’s really looking up.
Where did all of those damn nay-sayers go that told us all that Coach Marrone didn’t know what he was doing and should get let go.
Take a good look at the caliber of talent that we’re after. Take a look at the schools they’re battling for these recruits. Who’s going to tell me that the “WINDS OF CHANGE ISN’T STARTING TO BLOW ACROSS THE CAMPUS OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY?”
GO CUSE;
Just a few things.
@russell: I think Laray is strictly offense, due to the fact that he has great straight speed and is very thin. Too small for safety, and maybe not the hips for corner. Gus is too big for wr. Great point about beating out Chryst. He’ll make this a really tough fight, although Marrone is really doing well developing the OL.
@cdl: Hodge is one of our top recruits. He’s been lighting up camps in Florida and is ranked #45 lb by Scout.
@Ron: Love the enthusiasm, and I’m excited too! Still, realistically, a 40th ranked class would be a huge coup for Marrone this year, and 45-50th would still be an accomplishment.
@bgogo,thanks I did’nt think they’d move Augustus as I think he wants to play RB and has the juice for guarantee’s,was’nt familiar w/Smith’s limitations but this is the type of info CDL in Texas is interested in….thanks again.
I know that we’ve discussed the issue of Syracuse is losing recruiting battles in the south.
Here are some of the reasons why;
a) google–UNC professor fake studies then click on(Academic fraud and UNC Basketball/Kentucky Sports.co Boys. This story broke last week and makes for great reading.
NCAA Infractions Committee said they couldn’t do anything about because the total student population had a chance to take this course.
b) Of course we all know the Cam Newton story by now with his father selling their son to the highest bidder(Auburn) for $180,000.00.
Again the NCAA Infractions committee did nothing because they told the public that they didn’t have a rule on the books to deal with such a matter.
c)A guidance counselor from Wooddale High School,part of the Memphis School system faked the high school transcripts of a 4/5 star 6’1″ star RB Jovan Robinson which ended up going to of all places Auburn University. Looks like another Dexter Manley situation to me.
These are just a few reasons why we’re losing those battles.
Syracuse University would and will never stoop so low as to get a top recruit to come play football.
Guy’s go to goggle and bring up that article,your going to be shocked after reading.
Say what you want about Syracuse,but I’m damn proud that we play by the rules when recruiting a player.
GO CUSE;
Good stuff Ron,that kind of cheating is sort of accepted in certain schools I won’t name here but the NCAA acts toothless in a lot of these cases!!
I will name name USC the fact that they got off of their sanctions as the number 2 team is bs and now they are adding dukes I wouldn’t mind Seing te death penalty thrown around some of these schools have definitely lost the privellege of football in my books penn st shouldn’t. Even get a team
Good for you CuseDL,it pizz’s me off schools that do it the right way are joked about while the Auburns,FSUs,USC etc are praised like heroes for laughing in the face of authority!?!?I was wondwing if u were up about 2am eastern time,Ron and I asked u a couple questions in the previous thread?I don’t think u go to a run of the mill public school,Dipper either as you guys are quite impressive!!check out previous thread and leave response.Thanks CDL..
@Dipper,last years Pinstripe Bowl is on ESPNU….sizing up the enemy/competition??I am…btw g’morning…
I think it’s safe to say Gus Edwards will be playing RB, but I love the Marrone mindset with picking up multiple athletes. Yeah Smith could play some defense, but when you rush for 7 plus per carry, most likely he’ll be in the backfield. Just like New Orleans as you guys pointed out, he likes to get creative with running back packages
With 100 players in camp, I agree that plugging athletes with the capacity to learn various positions, is the way to go. LS would add that dynamic speed to the team. I think a recruit is open to a position change if theyre on the field. SU has always groomed the “next” 1000 yd back, Delone & Bailey combined for 2,000 all-purpose yds 8-5 season, thats great D-1 (fbs?) production, if thats duplicated, SU wins. Keep the talent coming…we have a 1000 yd back, who is it?
Hey russ, leading the troops? U see article on LB battle?
take this very seriously. if you choose say a tennessee or oregon are you going to be able to handle being far away from home. here at syracuse your probrably 4-5 hours away from home, you have friends here on the team already, and your family can come and watch the home games here in a dome where there not going to get wet or freeze.i truly beleive the program is going in the right direction with being in the acc next year and starting to upgrade facilities for the football program really doesn’t look to bad for syracuse right now to tell you the truth. also get a good education along with maybe being on the track team too maybe…
To win ball games, you need kids that will sacrifice for the team, i doubt any recruit wouldnt have the ASHTON mindset, “help where I can”, to help the team WIN. No freshman is coming in saying ” this is my position”, actually there has been a mindset that all positions have to be fought for. LARAY SMITH and EDWARDS would do whats asked of them, character guys do! So 7.0 yds per carry could equal 10 interceptions on the next level, only the “Football Gods” know….ask Tebucky Jones? 1st rd NFL pick…former runningback at SU…its wat we do!
Well said Bigdip,well said! I couldn’t agree with you more.
Why does everyone think we should just hand out the number 44 to anyone who has 3 stars to their name… I say wait till that 5 star runningback from NY needs a little motivation
@Dipper,you mean newest story?I actually think we have a great group of LBers and great cheerleaders too,especially while Ron keeps his pom-poms handy lol..@CDL,your right about #44,should be used only in extraordinary circumstances!!not for every 3* athlete we recruit,how do u like that 15y/o and sense of tradition…future is fine with young fans like Dip and CDL!!Keep that smile on my face Dipper w/fans like you everythings good..
@Dip,did I miss something?did CDL say Dukes is going to USC?I know Redd is,did he mean Silas Redd??check CDLs above comment.
my mistake redd
OK we all make em.I thought thats what ya mean’t!!