(Update: 7:31a. One of SU football’s prime remaining recruiting targets, defensive lineman Josh Manley, has confirmed to The Fizz he is committing to Syracuse after his official visit this weekend.
This is an enormous late signing for the Orange. Many felt the Georgia native would choose to stay closer to home and pick Georgia Tech or another southeastern school like Virginia or NC State. He also had offers from Purdue and Mississippi State. Not only is he a terrific talent who spurned other BCS programs, but he fills a position of need.
With the losses of Chan Jones and Mikhail Marinovich on the defensive line, the Orange desperately needed to begin filling in the holes. Manley does exactly that. After a season where Lady Luck was not on Syracuse’s side, the Orange finally caught a break. Manley had family in New York City, and was always considering SU because of it. This is a tremendous addition to the SU recruiting class with just over two weeks to go.)
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Manley confirmed he’s taking the visit in a phone conversation with The Fizz. The trip to the Salt City will be the lineman’s first official visit to any school. He was supposed to visit Syracuse in early December, but had to reschedule.
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The Alpharetta, Georgia prospect would serve as a legitimate recruiting victory for Doug Marrone, should Syracuse beat out several other BCS schools for his commitment. Boston College, North Carolina State, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Purdue, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Wake Forest, all sit alongside SU on Manley’s offer list.
Manley is rated three stars by Rivals, and would bring lots of size to an Orange defensive front that needs restocking. He already weighs about 250 pounds, and his high school coach, Howie DeCristofaro, tells The Fizz that Manley has yet to really fill out.
Here’s what Manley said he’d bring to the Orange if he commits:
“My biggest strength is my work ethic, my high motor. I never quit or give up on any play. As long as the play is going there’s a play to be made.”
Manley is excited about the possibility of attending school in New York because he has a lot of family living in New York City. He has also heard good things about Syracuse‚Äôs engineering school. Manley is one of SU’s highest rated recruits still on the board, and would be a huge coup for Marrone just 17 days before Signing Day
Posted: Andrew Kanell
