Syracuse’s football campaign ended on Saturday, but another important season for Doug Marrone is still in full swing. Over the next two months The Dougie’s next recruiting class will be finalized. Who will land the last spots for the ‚Äô12 group? There are 21 commitments to date, and only a handful of scholarships still available.
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One thing seems certain: a LB will not be one of the final commits. The Fizz has learned OLB recruit Abner Logan (Dexter School, MA) is now off SU’s radar. Logan’s head coach, Casey Day, simply said Syracuse is not longer an option for Abner. This is a theme, since Tyrone Neal is another LB the Orange has turned away.
It appears SU is targeting running backs and defensive lineman for the final scholarships. The Fizz has come up with its own top 5 list of recruits who are most likely land the finals spots.
- George Morris, RB (Central Gwinnett, GA)
Syracuse needs to add a running back for this class, and the two left on the board are Morris (pictured right) and the always intriguing Boom Perkins (left). The Fizz reported Morris is visiting the Hill this month and Boom has been SU’s top target for a while. Both backs are being recruited by the beast Tyrone Wheatley, and are thought highly of by the coaching staff. Also, SU has recently turned down Lakeith Walls, so odds are either Morris or Perkins will be wearing Orange. Morris seems more likely since Boom is also being offered by LSU and Oregon. Morris is being recruited by Utah and Illinois.
Chance of committing to SU: 80%
- Wayne Morgan, DB (Erasmus Hall, Brooklyn)
If you asked The Fizz two months ago about the chances of landing Morgan, we would have looked at you sideways. SU appeared out of the hunt and Wayne was headed to Ann Arbor. Fast forward to today, and¬†the Orange is right in the thick of things¬†for the DB. It’s down to three Big East rivals: Rutgers, UConn and SU. Realignment can be key in this recruiting battle. The Brooklyn product said Syracuse’s move to the ACC makes it more attractive, giving Syracuse the edge.
Chance of committing to SU: 50%
- Josh Manley, DE (Milton High School, GA)
Defensive end is an area of need and Manley can be an answer. Josh told The Fizz¬†SU is in his top 4, and he’s visiting Syracuse this month. Another positive is he has family in New York. But the Orange is up against stiff competition, especially with nearby Georgia Tech on the prowl. Manley wants to study engineering, and GT has one of the best programs in the country. Tech scares us the most, and Josh has the Jackets as his last schedules visit.
Chance of committing to SU: 35%
- Yoshtoub Timms, DE (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
A name Syracuse fans may not be so familiar with, but Timms has been on the radar for a while.¬†Yoshtoub reciprocated¬†SU’s love early in the recruiting process.
“The two schools standing out to me right now are Iowa State and Syracuse. Syracuse has offered me, so I might end up committing to them if Iowa State doesn’t come through (with an offer). Those are my two top schools right now.”
It looks like the Cyclones haven’t come up with an offer yet. According to Scout, Rivals, and ESPN he still has one from SU. If so, Timms might be that defensive end the Orange is looking to reel in.
Chance of committing to SU: 35%
- David “ Boom” Perkins, RB (South Bend, IN)
Perkins said SU was the leader to land him¬†before committing to Norte Dame. After his de-commitment, SU is still in the running but is no longer his #1. Wheatley is the key cog in reeling in Perkins, but competition from powerhouses such as LSU, Boise St, and Oregon make it an uphill battle. Landing Perkins would be huge and make this class Marrone’s strongest.
Chance of committing to SU: 25%
National Signing Day is less than two months away. Hopefully, the Orange’s shoddy play in the last half of the season doesn’t influence the decisions of any of these recruits.
Posted: Dave Van Moffaert
