Since Scott Shafer was shown the door and Dino Babers was named Syracuse’s new head coach, Syracuse’s recruiting has been a whirlwind. The Orange have encountered several decommits¬†but in the final days before National Signing Day,¬†are taking steps to add more commits. Two Defensive Ends, Joshua Black and Jaquwan Nelson are taking their official visits to Syracuse on Friday.
Black, who is 6-2 and weighs 235 pounds, originally committed to staying in his home state and playing for the University of Illinois but he officially decommitted from the Illini on January 18th, according to his twitter. He committed to Illinois back in June and he had offers from four other schools including Syracuse and Dino Baber’s former school Bowling Green. c
In his statement in which he decommitted from Illinois, Black said he reopened his recruitment after discussing it with his family and will make a decision closer to National Signing Day. National Signing Day is on February 3rd, is just 12 days away.
Syracuse is also hosting another defensive end Friday. Jaquwan Nelson from Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida is also taking his official visit. The Orange are in more of a battle for Nelson’s signature than they are for Black’s. Nelson is fielding ten offers, including offers from Miami, Georgia, Purdue and Bowling Green.
Unlike Black, Nelson is yet to verbally commit to any school. He took an official visit to Purude last week and visited Coral Gables several times in the summer and early fall. Nelson, who is 6-4 and weighs 230 pounds, is an exciting prospect, having put up impressive numbers his senior year recording 12 sacks.
Syracuse has two Defensive Ends already committed. Jamal Holloway committed over the summer and Kendall Colman committed last week. However, he recruitment of both Black and Nelson is something that Orange fans should keep an eye on in the coming days up until National Signing Day as Syracuse looks to add depth on defense.
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