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3-star commit Andrejas Duerig started his high school career at Lowell High in Indiana playing tight end. He then emerged as a guard, and now that he has transferred to Mount Carmel High School (Chicago, Illinois) for his senior season he will play there and also feature at multiple positions on the defensive line. At Syracuse, the Orange coaches want him to give the center position a try.
Duerig did not know of the SU coaching staff‚Äôs plans until he came to Syracuse for his first unofficial visit. He has not played center since his middle school days, but the Syracuse coaches are confident that the 6‚Äô4″, 272-pound offensive lineman will be able to make the transition because of his athleticism. Duerig believes he will take reps at center in practice at Mount Carmel, which will provide him with an opportunity to work on his shotgun snap. If he progresses with his mechanics now, he will hopefully be able to develop a strong chemistry with Terrell Hunt‚Äôs successor at SU in the future.
In two years, when Duerig will be a freshman, the projected Syracuse center for next season, John Miller, will have graduated. The only other center on the roster in two years time will be senior Jason Emerich. The job should be Emerich’s to lose, but even if he is not ready, Duerig will most likely sit out as a freshman. Ideally, Syracuse will get three solid years out of Duerig at center.
The Mount Carmel senior expects more scholarship offers to come in the next few months. Even if that is the case, Duerig is firmly committed to playing football at Syracuse. The Orange should have no problem holding on to its sixth 3-star recruit for 2015 (via scout.com).
Posted by: Connor Morrissette