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via scout
The Orange landed its 12th commitment of the 2015 recruiting class Tuesday: 6’4”, 281-pound offensive lineman Andrejas Duerig. The Mount Carmel High School monster is the fifth offensive lineman to pledge Orange. Duerig joins another Illinois recruit: OT Cody Conway, of Plainfield, Ill.
In as many years, Syracuse adds another bulldozer from Chi City. SU signed 6’6”, 295-pounder Aaron Roberts last winter for the class of 2014. The size coming out of the Midwest is undoubtedly one of the key components of this year’s class.
The combination of the Midwest, Florida’s Sam Clausman and Colin Byrne, and Connecticut’s Evan Adams means big-time size. Clausman is the shortest lineman at 6’3”, while Adams tops out at 275 pounds. Pretty much every OL addition scares you with overpowering, towering physiques.
We’ve already crossed this point, but man, oh man, Duerig is the ninth player to give SU the good news since May 16th, a span which has lasted just over a month. 247 Sports respects the Orange enough to credit it with a Top 30 bunch.
Via Scout, the 3-star Duerig chose Syracuse over offers from Western Michigan, Toledo and Buffalo, among others. His stock has really yet to display its complete worth this early in his recruiting process, but SU seems locked in to simply key in on raw size.
With Duerig’s pledge, revving up the run game is another storyline¬†to watch. Some increased roles and heightened expectations for Prince-Tyson Gulley have not only put the pressure on the returning senior but on Syracuse as a team to gather protection. To execute a ground-and-pound offensive, it‚Äôs critical to have depth at offensive line.
For Syracuse, there’s still concern regarding athleticism. The size ultimately could end up being a win-lose situation. You can protect in big moments, but can this group of lineman guard over the course of a 60-minute game?
One has to figure the coaching staff hopes to mold this size into shape to also gain litheness. Not sure if it’s safe to say just yet, but Syracuse could be done recruiting for the o-line. The staff may cross that path again, though, to gain some quicker players. Nonetheless, another solid add and SU’s 2015 class so far shields cheaper by the dozen.
Posted by: Brendan Glasheen 
