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Syracuse currently has three verbal commits for the 2015 high school class. They are running back Tyrone Perkins from Locust Valley, New York; running back Jordan Fredericks from Cedarhurst, New York; and cornerback Gerald Robinson from Hialeah, Florida.
Tyrone Perkins is a 6’0’’, 190-pound speedster who ran for over 1,000 yards in his junior season at Friends Academy in Long Island. As a recruit, he flew extremely under the radar. No major recruiting site had Perkins ranked at the time of his commitment. The only Division I schools to show interest in him were Syracuse, Fordham, UConn and Boston College. SU was the only school to offer Perkins a scholarship early on in the recruiting process and he returned the favor with his commitment. In addition to his success on the gridiron, Perkins also stars on the basketball court.
5’10’’, 195-pound Jordan Fredericks will join Perkins in the SU backfield two seasons from now. Read the Fizz’s reaction to Fredericks’s recruitment and our breakdown of his play here.
With these additions Syracuse is addressing the lack of experience they will have at running back in two years’ time. Jerome Smith graduates later this month and Prince Tyson-Gulley will graduate a year from now. That leaves just Devonte McFarlane and George Morris II as the only rushers left on the squad when Perkins and Fredericks come to town. Despite each player‚Äôs lack of big-name offers, Perkins and Fredericks will be given opportunities by Scott Shafer because of Syracuse‚Äôs shortage of rushers. Whether these chances emerge during their freshman seasons remains to be seen. Right now, however, these two, along with 2014 recruit¬†Ervin Phillips, are the running backs of the future.
Finally, 3-star recruit Gerald “Bubba” Robinson is Syracuse’s first defensive 2015 recruit. The 5’11’’, 170-pound cornerback was recruited more heavily than his other fellow commits. Robinson had offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, UCF and Utah before deciding to commit to Syracuse. In a tweet, Robinson credited SU offensive coordinator George McDonald as being the deciding factor.
It’s always difficult to determine if a recruit in the secondary has any shot of playing as an underclassman. The Orange usually shies away from this (even Durell Eskridge redshirted as a freshman) but Keon Lyn, Brandon Reddish and Julian Whigham did all see some time in their freshman seasons. If Robinson impresses, he will play.
Posted by: Connor Morrissette
