ESPN Rise/NY Post
Move over Tyrone Wheatley, there’s another influential recruiter making an impact for Syracuse right now: Wayne Morgan. The Fizz¬†spoke to the incoming Brooklyn wide receiver during his trip to The Hill¬†for the Spring Game last weekend. “Lights Out” was also on campus the week before, and brought some of his buddies from home with him.
Morgan was accompanied by 6’4″ 240 lb. DE Ebenezer Ogundeko from Thomas Jefferson High (pictured left) and RB Augustus Edwards from Tottenville High (pictured right). They just happen¬†to be two of the top prospects in New York. Both are high on the Orange, and loved their unofficial visits according to Morgan.
“Ebenezer and Augustus Рthey were up [in Syracuse] with me and they loved it here. They had the time of their lives. The first night when we were back, they kept calling me, talking about the trip and saying how much fun they had. Hopefully they’re going to be coming here.”
Morgan admitted he’s looking to be the Brandon Reddish of this year’s class. Brandon and Wayne had been friends all their lives, growing up playing football just minutes apart from each other. Reddish played a huge role in landing the Erasmus star on Signing Day, and Wayne will be picking up that responsibility this year.
The Fizz¬†highlighted three of the top Big Apple prospects recently, and the law firm of Ebenezer & Edwards landed on our list.¬†Marrone has focused a ton of energy on the pipeline to NYC, and it‚Äôs paying dividends. Here’s where Morgan’s commitment goes beyond just his play. Ogundeko has over 20 scholarship offers from schools including Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, and Ohio State among others. But he‚Äôs apparently crazy about Syracuse because of that connection with Morgan. “Lights Out” will not only add playmaking ability on offense,¬†but has a high profile in the 5-boroughs football scene.
Edwards also has a relationship to his Tottenville teammate and Syracuse commit Alvin Cornelius. Marrone’s mission of owning New York City is starting to pick up steam. Edwards rushed for nearly 1,500 yards last fall, and Ogundeko piled up 11 sacks and 79 tackles. SU lost Ishaq Williams two years ago, but might now have the influence in the Big Apple to land the big fishes down there.
The Fizz also asked Morgan making his return to the tri-state area against USC at the Meadowlands in September.
“Everybody [is looking forward to that game]. Even everybody in my neighborhood, every time they see me, they say ‘oh man, I‚Äôm going to that USC game.’ That is going to be a great experience for me, playing against USC at [Metlife] Stadium.”
Well Doc Gross, here‚Äôs looking at you. He’s caught huge flak for taking¬†games out of the Dome, but here’s where those decisions pay off. Create exposure and big game events in huge stadiums, and recruits get excited. It would seem likely Ogundeko and Edwards will be at that game, along with other NYC recruits.
SU already has a great inside edge on two of the top prospects in-state thanks to Morgan. He hasn‚Äôt even put on an Orange uniform yet, but the Brooklyn star is already “Lights Out” on the recruiting trail.
