Syracuse picked up a huge commitment Thursday when Tyler Ennis, one of the highest-ranked players in the class of 2013, pledge to the Orange.
Unfortunately, Ennis made his commitment to basketball coach Jim Boeheim, not fourth-year football coach Doug Marrone. The latter's success on the recruiting trail has not been quite as great. Only eight players have pledged their loyalty to Marrone and Syracuse, and not one of them is expected to make a considerable splash.
The Orange will have a lot of replacing to do, especially offensively, with the forthcoming departures of quarterback Ryan Nassib and wide receiver Alec Lemon. Syracuse has already begun compensating for the loss of Nassib, as they have already locked up two solid prep quarterbacks.
Below are three of the Orange's most important commitments so far:
Augustus Edwards, RB, State Island, NY: Edwards appears to be the pick of the litter so far, and with no clear-cut running back set for the Orange in 2012, he may be able to be an impact player immediately. He has good size (6-2, 221) for a back, and he has good speed relative to his bulk. Should be a tough runner between the tackles, and he can still add some muscle to his frame.
Zach Allen, QB, Temple, Tx.: With Nassib graduating in 2012, Allen and fellow incoming recruit Austin Wilson will vie with Terrel Hunt for the starting spot in 2013. Unlike Hunt, neither Allen nor Wilson are running QBs, though Allen does have the potential to get out of the pocket and make things happen with his legs.
Tyler Provo, FB, Delray Beach, Fl.: The good thing about Provo is his versatility. His size (6-2, 230) lends him to being a fullback or tight end, so he can fit nicely into almost any offensive scheme. With the Orange being forced to forge a new offensive identity in 2013, Provo's ability to adapt to different spots will serve him well in terms of getting on the field.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Big East, follow bloggers Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski @CBSBigEast
