If you’ve watched any SU football this year, you’ll know that in addition to the special teams concerns, there are only two wideouts in Van Chew and Alec Lemon making catches. That’s how thin the WR position is.
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Chew has 19 catches at 18.1 yards per catch. Lemon has 13 catches and averages 11.6 yards per grab. The third, fourth, and fifth leading receivers are Nick Provo (tight end), Antwon Bailey (running back), and Aaron Weaver (out for the season).
Marcus Sales has been MIA, Adrian Fleming hasn’t seen the field, Cody Morgan has seen minimal snaps, and Jarrod West was injured during training camp. The rest of the wide receivers are walk ons and not expected to make it on the field.
Ryan Nassib has proven that if he has the weapons, he can make the throws. Well, here’s the next weapon:
Senior Brandon Reddish – Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, NY.
It’s almost like the kid is tailor-made for SU. Not only does Marrone want and need to pick up more players from within New York, but this wideout also makes plays happen after the catch.
From watching his highlight video at WR (he’s also got one at CB), it’s obvious that he wasn’t paired up with a very gifted quarterback. Most of the catches are made on balls that he has to wait for and then either blows past defenders, or right through them.
‚ÄúThe (then) junior is nicknamed ‚ÄòBam‚Äô because he often leaves an impact. The rest of the city knows all too well. Reddish was arguably the most electrifying talent in the PSAL. Tall and muscular but blessed with sprinter’s speed, he turned simple dump-offs into touchdowns and ran by cornerbacks like they weren’t there.‚Äù
The competition is going to be tough to pick Reddish out of the city considering he‚Äôs getting interest from LSU, Penn State, Maryland, UConn, West Virginia and… gah Rutgers.
Get this Рin the first week of high school action, he even played quarterback. Fort Hamilton’s starter went down and Reddish led his team to a win. He didn’t pass much but the team ran for 380 yards, including a 91-yard touchdown run he took from under center.
Last week he also caught a touchdown and threw for one – go figure.
Top talent in New York should be headed to Syracuse, bottom line. Reddish is still uncommitted and would make a huge addition to an already booming class of 2011.
Posted: Mike Couzens
