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The Daily OrangeRecruit | Syracuse's tradition enough to lure Mayes despite struggles
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 10/24/07, 9:30 PM EST Section: Sports
Recruits that give Syracuse football a verbal commitment usually point to the coaching staff as to why they committed. Sometimes it's newly renovated facilities. And on some occasions, recruits even look toward their futures and are impressed by SU's academics.
Tradition, more recently, doesn't come up too often. It's uncommon to hear a commit bring up Jim Brown, Ernie Davis or even Donovan McNabb. But Grant Mayes is not a usual recruit.
Syracuse has gone almost 50 years without a national championship and 46 years with no Heisman Trophy winner. The Orange tied for a Big East title three years ago, but it's currently 7-24 in the Greg Robinson era. So why did cornerback Mayes commit to Syracuse?
Tradition.
"The opportunity is great," Mayes said. "I could've played in the ACC or Big Ten, but you look at the tradition, Jim Brown, Donovan McNabb, the Carrier Dome. The tradition is just great."
Mayes, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound cornerback, is rated as a two-star prospect out of Seton Hall (N.J.) Preparatory School. Syracuse faced competition from Tennessee, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Temple who all made offers to Mayes.
Scout.com may only rate him as a two-star prospect, but that isn't a unanimous feeling. Mark Alkire, the East Coast scouting analyst for Scout.com, said Mayes is a very underrated recruit and could very well be the second-best corner in New Jersey.
Tennessee and Cincinnati must agree with Alkire, as they have still been in contact with Mayes, trying to sway his decision.
Mayes listens to what the schools have to say, but he doesn't think anything will prevent him from wearing Orange next year.
"When I started doing my research on Syracuse, they just shot past the other schools (recruiting me)," Mayes said.
Mayes started that research on the Orange last year. Mayes said after Syracuse made him a formal offer, it was the first time he started doing his "homework."
"Just this year, me and my mom got on our game and started doing our research on schools and the whole nine yards," Mayes said. "It's important to me, it's important to her. Academically and traditionally, nothing beat Syracuse. It's just a great place to be and a great place to play."
Tradition, more recently, doesn't come up too often. It's uncommon to hear a commit bring up Jim Brown, Ernie Davis or even Donovan McNabb. But Grant Mayes is not a usual recruit.
Syracuse has gone almost 50 years without a national championship and 46 years with no Heisman Trophy winner. The Orange tied for a Big East title three years ago, but it's currently 7-24 in the Greg Robinson era. So why did cornerback Mayes commit to Syracuse?
Tradition.
"The opportunity is great," Mayes said. "I could've played in the ACC or Big Ten, but you look at the tradition, Jim Brown, Donovan McNabb, the Carrier Dome. The tradition is just great."
Mayes, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound cornerback, is rated as a two-star prospect out of Seton Hall (N.J.) Preparatory School. Syracuse faced competition from Tennessee, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Temple who all made offers to Mayes.
Scout.com may only rate him as a two-star prospect, but that isn't a unanimous feeling. Mark Alkire, the East Coast scouting analyst for Scout.com, said Mayes is a very underrated recruit and could very well be the second-best corner in New Jersey.
Tennessee and Cincinnati must agree with Alkire, as they have still been in contact with Mayes, trying to sway his decision.
Mayes listens to what the schools have to say, but he doesn't think anything will prevent him from wearing Orange next year.
"When I started doing my research on Syracuse, they just shot past the other schools (recruiting me)," Mayes said.
Mayes started that research on the Orange last year. Mayes said after Syracuse made him a formal offer, it was the first time he started doing his "homework."
"Just this year, me and my mom got on our game and started doing our research on schools and the whole nine yards," Mayes said. "It's important to me, it's important to her. Academically and traditionally, nothing beat Syracuse. It's just a great place to be and a great place to play."
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