Days after picking up two recruits for 2016, the Orange were dealt their first real blow of the new round of recruiting. Offensive Tackle Liam Smith announced via Twitter on Monday that he has committed to Duke University. This decision came after Smith narrowed his list down to Duke, Syracuse, Virginia and Rutgers.
The 6-foot-5 tackle has been one of several recruits from New Jersey that the Orange looked to tempt to coming upstate. The Red Bank Catholic product made his first visit to Syracuse last summer and then attended Syracuse’s game against Notre Dame at Metlife Stadium in September.
Smith was one of four New Jersey players that came up to Syracuse for the Spring game last weekend.   Just over a week after leaving campus Smith has made his decision to go to ACC rival Duke.
Smith would have been the second offensive linemen of the 2016 class had he committed to the Orange. Syracuse picked up Guard and Lynnfield, Massachusetts product Cam DeGeorge last week.
The Offensive Tackle would have been a great early addition to the Class of 2016 but this is just part of the recruiting process. The Orange have their eyes on plenty of other talent that can be added to the newest recruiting class.
In fact, Syracuse Head Coach Scott Shafer said at the spring game that Syracuse’s focus will be more towards the skills positions this year. The Orange feel that they have built a foundation on both the offensive and defensive lines and can now look to build talent around the men in the trenches.
There is no doubt that adding Liam Smith to the class of 2016 would have been a plus. However, missing out on the big man from Jersey is not that big of a deal for the Orange.
Posted: Logan Grossman
