What we know: Four-star defensive end Ebenezer Ogundeko (Brooklyn, N.Y./Jefferson) will make his college decision Friday at the Under Armour All-America Game.
What we don’t know: Whether some recent Syracuse juice has helped sway him to the Orange.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound athlete will make his choice between Syracuse and Clemson and the end of the week, and while nationally it would be considered a huge upset for the Orange to win that battle, there’s some good vibes for SU fans.
Recently, Ebo took his official visit to the Hill, and it couldn’t have gone much better. All of his Big Apple boys were in CNY with him, including SU commit Gus Edwards and Orange hopeful Laray Smith. The ‘Cuse Clique, including quarterbacks Zach Allen and Austin Wilson, were also there for a terrific weekend that included an SU hoops win at the Dome all the recruits were on hand for.
Instagram popped for three days with encouraging images of excited SU recruits. That included from linebacker Malik Brown, who excitedly committed just days later. Ebo was also at Yankee Stadium Saturday, in his hometown, watching Syracuse lay the lumber to West Virginia, and whoop it up on the field post game. For NYC kids like Brandon Reddish and Wayne Morgan to be part of a nationally televised beat down in the snowy Bronx, it must’ve been a dream come true. One has to imagine Ebenezer, Laray and Gus imagined themselves in the same spot.
In a twist or serendipity, Syracuse beat up on WVU, which thrashed Clemson in last year’s Orange Bowl 70-33. Maybe that resonates with Ogundeko?
Ebo recently said, “Syracuse is a great school. I like what they have to offer me. I like their players a lot and I like their coaches. I went to their game yesterday. It’s a great place. I’m from New York and I like that New York environment.”
Ebo represents an elusive commodity: The best player in the state choosing Syracuse over a national power. Doug Marrone came up short on Ishaq Williams (Notre Dame), Jarron Jones (Notre Dame) and Chad Kelly (Clemson). Could Ebo be the one that breaks that streak? It’s not so far fetched.
Posted: D.A.
