Posted: Mike Couzens
Just a week ago when we lamented the small size of the 2011 football recruiting class for the Orange. All of a sudden, voila! We are gaining steam.
We travel today to the booming metropolis small town of Cornwall, N.Y. Located fifty miles outside of New York City, it was once home to Gen. David Petraeus, and… well that’s pretty much it… until now!
(Editor’s note: Lay off Section 9 and Orange County, Couzens. I’m a Warwick, NY product – Cornwall is my neighborhood).
A Cornwall Dragons running back is the second member of the class of 2011 to give a verbal commitment to Doug Marrone: Tyree Smallwood.
He’s a 5’11” running back who ran for 1,541 yards last season as a junior and scored 22 touchdowns. On top of that, this wasn’t his only option. He spent his spring break back in April touring schools all around Division-1.
Smallwood toured Maryland, Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Rutgers. But you know what makes the difference with Syracuse – even for football players? Basketball.
‚ÄúSyracuse was his first offer. (His Youtube highlights) got him an invite to ‘Junior Day’ in late January. He went there and caught a Syracuse-Villanova basketball game in the Carrier Dome. At one point, Smallwood was separated from the group and taken to head coach Doug Marrone’s office.
“He told me that he wanted me to come to Syracuse on a full scholarship,” Smallwood said. “I think my mouth just dropped open. I didn’t know what to say.”
Appropriate answers would include: Yes, YES, YES!!!, and F&%* YEAH!
As far as the rest of that story goes, Smallwood said he had hoped to commit by July. Better early than never, right Tyree?
His highlight video has nearly 2,000 views. I wonder how many of those came from Manley Field House.
Smallwood also had a full scholarship offer from Central Michigan, but turned it down to play for Syracuse. Orange 1, Chippewas 0. (It’s ok, I didn’t know their mascot either.)
Slowly but surely, this recruiting class is coming together.
