While most Americans were enjoying a long weekend, Syracuse’s football staff did not take a break, and as a result, got a commitment from 2017 Linebacker/Safety Kadeem Trotter out of Canton McKinley High School in Ohio. There is no doubt that Syracuse is in desperate needs of reinforcements to both the linebacking corp and the secondary and Trotter should be able to help out in either area.
Trotter is ranked two-stars by 24/7 and three stars by Rivals and scout. However, Trotter, and may others believe that his low rankings are due in large part to injury. Trotter tore his MCL and missed all but three games of his junior season. He has his entire senior year to prove those in charge of the rankings wrong but, for now, he is committed to the Orange.
At 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds Trotter may be slightly undersized to play linebacker in the ACC, but he still has another year of high school to put on some weight. Syracuse has told him that they expect to use him at strong-side linebacker, according to Syracuse.com, but the Orange may choose to use him in the secondary and in that case, he likely would not need to put on much weight, if any.
However, he is the exact type of player that Syracuse needs. He is just one of several players that the Orange will need to fill a big hole on the defense and the more versatile those players are, the better it is for Syracuse.
Trotter only had a handful of offers to choose from. In addition to Syracuse, he had offers from Iowa State, Boston College and Ohio. He also worked out at several camps this summer, one of which got him in front of Dino Babers. These camps have certainly proven to be an effective recruiting tool for the staff.
Trotter was just one of three players to verbally commit to the Orange this weekend. Joining him in the Class of 2017 is Florida Linebacker Keirston Johnson and Massachusetts DB Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Follow @OrangeFizz on Twitter for all of the latest Syracuse recruiting news. 
