The last week has been a whirlwind for the Syracuse coaching staff.  Amid rumors of decommitments, the SU coaches are attempting to flip some commitments of their own, and get some new ones in the process.
The first domino to fall was the decommitment of South Florida recruit Keivonnis Davis.  Davis originally committed to the Orange, but as was suspected, switched to Oregon State last week after George McDonald left for NC State.
            The Orange has been targeting Jake Pickard, a defensive end from New Jersey that originally committed to Wisconsin over the Orange.  However, with a similar coaching turn over, Pickard’s commitment to the Badgers is in question.  The Orange and Michigan have been making a push for the talented defensive end in the last week.
A third option at defensive end has just recently come to the forefront.  After visiting Pickard this week, the Orange coaching staff is closing on another New Jersey defensive end, Kenny Carter.  Carter was one of the many prospects that visited the campus this past weekend, but still doesn’t have any FBS offers on the table.
According to his high school coach, Carter understands that he is a backup plan for the Orange coaching staff.  Nevertheless, with no offers on the table, he has to be thrilled with SU’s sudden interest.  Carter measures in at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, but still has tons of room to grow.  Physically, he can be a huge surprise for the Orange, but his talent is best described as raw.
Carter certainly would not be a headliner for any recruiting class, let alone the Orange’s.  But, with the way things have been looking recently, SU is going to need to fill its available scholarships.  The class of 2015 has three other defensive ends in it, but the Orange lost a lot of talent on its defensive line in the past two/three years.
Furthermore, earning another New Jersey commitment would strengthen Syracuse’s ties to the New York/New Jersey region– a bitter subject after losing out on Najee Clayton to the Scarlet Knights.
It’s good to see that the Orange coaching staff has some secondary plans in mind on the verge of National Signing Day, but Carter certainly isn’t the cream of the crop.
Posted:  Jason Weingold
