Najee Clayton is one of, if not THE best, recruit that Syracuse is still going after. While a number of transfers are considering joining the Orange, Clayton is one of the last players that Syracuse is heavily targeting.
Clayton, if he does decide to come to Syracuse, would be one of the team’s top recruits. He has proven to be a talented wide receiver and running back, with both the speed to separate and the hands to offer a wide catch radius for whoever ends up passing for the Orange.
With the loss of running backs Prince-Tyson Gulley and a Adonis Ameen-Moore, Clayton would have the opportunity to get immediate playing time in the backfield. The Orange could also look to him to make catches in the red zone, an area that needed more improvement than any other. Clayton could be make an impact from the second he gets to campus.
Aside from the benefits that Clayton brings on the field, the off-the-field implication may be even greater. Signing Clayton would take him away from recruiting rival Rutgers, and could set the precedent for decisions made by future recruits.  The talent at Clayton’s school, Paramus Catholic, could also lead players to follow him to the Carrier Dome if he chooses that path.
Paramus has a history of a talented football team, and is consistently sending players to the next level. Landing Clayton could establish a connection with the school that would give Syracuse and extra advantage when recruiting future players from the school.
Najee Clayton is a talented prospect with a lot of versatility and tremendous potential. What he could do on the field is exciting, but the impact that he can have without stepping on the field would help Syracuse just as much.
Posted:  Nathan Dickinson
