Spring Break
The Daily OrangeDual-threat Warren has Big East teams checking 'pulse'
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 11/16/07, 12:09 AM EST Section: Sports
Watching Syracuse's football team this year, an observation can be made at times that the team might be playing a bit flat. The majority of the time it seems as though the fans' energy is just not present, either.
The Dome could receive a new "pulse" next year if Wayne Warren decides to play atop the Hill.
Warren is a two-way player, a quarterback on offensive and a safety on defense for Wicomico (Md.) High School. He is a three-star talent according to Scout.com.
Scout.com may call him "the best-kept secret on the East Coast," but his teammates just call him "The Pulse." He earned the nickname quickly in his first season playing quarterback as a sophomore.
Warren's offensive line gave him the moniker because of the life he brings to the teams. Even as one of the youngest players, Warren was still looked to as the heart of the team.
"People think of me as the pulse of the team," Warren said. "People feed off of my pulse, off of my heartbeat. People go off of they way I play, which I don't take in an arrogant way. I take it as a leadership way. I like it."
Warren didn't always like the nickname. He was called up to the varsity team as a freshman, where he saw most of his playing time on defense. His sophomore year is when he started seeing time at quarterback.
Warren's ability may have been the best on the field, but as a sophomore, he admits he was initially scared of the nickname and the leadership role that came with it.
"When I first heard it, I was shocked," Warren said. "I was like, 'Wow, who gave me that nickname?' But as things went on, I started to understand the concept of me being 'The Pulse' and where they were coming from. It grew on me."
It didn't take much time for the nickname to grow on Wicomico head coach David Nettle, who couldn't wait to get Warren on his team and on to the field as soon as possible. Even as a sophomore, Nettle thought the name fit his young quarterback perfectly. And only after a few games, his thoughts were backed up by Warren's actions.
"He's had that ability to lead the offense since he became the starting quarterback in the 10th grade," Nettle said. "(He's) mentally young, but on the field, he took over."
To say Warren took over the team would be an understatement. Since Warren became the "pulse" of the team, Wicomico has never had to turn to a defibrillator to jump start Warren.
Excluding a loss in last year's state playoffs, Warren has won 23 straight games since taking over the starting quarterback job in the final two games of his sophomore season. Wicomico is a perfect 10-0 this season, and will play in the first round of the state playoffs tonight.
"He doesn't know what it is to lose," Nettle said. "Him at the helm makes a night-and-day difference. He can run the ball, he can pass the ball and his decision making is unbelievable."
The next decision for Warren is where he will go to college next year. Syracuse, Auburn, Stanford, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Navy are all in the running to add some "pulse" to their squads.
Rutgers and Syracuse are the only schools recruiting Warren to play another position other than quarterback. Rutgers is recruiting him to play safety. Warren said the Syracuse coaching staff told him they just want to get him out on the field.
Whether SU is the most attractive school to Warren remains to be seen. He already visited once and said Syracuse is in his top three. Another thing Syracuse has in its favor is Warren's former teammate, offensive lineman Josh White, who now plays for the Orange.
Warren said he looks up to 2006 Heisman Trophy winner and former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith because he not only has a similar playing style, but Smith was also a hybrid quarterback that was recruited to play a different position.
Trying to be the next Troy Smith puts a lot of pressure on a young quarterback. Then again, being the heart and soul of a team so much so that your nickname is "The Pulse" prepared Warren well.
"There was pressure at first," Warren said. "I was a young quarterback and there was pressure, but I learned to deal with pressure. You know, pressure busts (things), but mine really hasn't busted too many yet. So I deal with it."
Bailey Speaks about Syracuse
Antwon Bailey committed to Syracuse last month, a day before Halloween. Bailey couldn't be reached for comment but did speak with Scout.com about his commitment.
Bailey credited the players and the coaching staff that convinced him to give his verbal commitment to SU. The positive attitude about turning the program around was also a plus, he told Matt Alkire of Scout.com.
Bailey is a two-star running back for St. John's (D.C.) College High School. So far this season, Bailey has led his team to an 8-2 record. On the ground, Bailey has amassed more than 1,300 yards and has found the end zone 21 times.
Bailey is listed at 5-foot-7, but some say he's really 5-foot-6, which is extremely small for a running back. Syracuse beat out Army and Navy to land Bailey.
The Dome could receive a new "pulse" next year if Wayne Warren decides to play atop the Hill.
Warren is a two-way player, a quarterback on offensive and a safety on defense for Wicomico (Md.) High School. He is a three-star talent according to Scout.com.
Scout.com may call him "the best-kept secret on the East Coast," but his teammates just call him "The Pulse." He earned the nickname quickly in his first season playing quarterback as a sophomore.
Warren's offensive line gave him the moniker because of the life he brings to the teams. Even as one of the youngest players, Warren was still looked to as the heart of the team.
"People think of me as the pulse of the team," Warren said. "People feed off of my pulse, off of my heartbeat. People go off of they way I play, which I don't take in an arrogant way. I take it as a leadership way. I like it."
Warren didn't always like the nickname. He was called up to the varsity team as a freshman, where he saw most of his playing time on defense. His sophomore year is when he started seeing time at quarterback.
Warren's ability may have been the best on the field, but as a sophomore, he admits he was initially scared of the nickname and the leadership role that came with it.
"When I first heard it, I was shocked," Warren said. "I was like, 'Wow, who gave me that nickname?' But as things went on, I started to understand the concept of me being 'The Pulse' and where they were coming from. It grew on me."
It didn't take much time for the nickname to grow on Wicomico head coach David Nettle, who couldn't wait to get Warren on his team and on to the field as soon as possible. Even as a sophomore, Nettle thought the name fit his young quarterback perfectly. And only after a few games, his thoughts were backed up by Warren's actions.
"He's had that ability to lead the offense since he became the starting quarterback in the 10th grade," Nettle said. "(He's) mentally young, but on the field, he took over."
To say Warren took over the team would be an understatement. Since Warren became the "pulse" of the team, Wicomico has never had to turn to a defibrillator to jump start Warren.
Excluding a loss in last year's state playoffs, Warren has won 23 straight games since taking over the starting quarterback job in the final two games of his sophomore season. Wicomico is a perfect 10-0 this season, and will play in the first round of the state playoffs tonight.
"He doesn't know what it is to lose," Nettle said. "Him at the helm makes a night-and-day difference. He can run the ball, he can pass the ball and his decision making is unbelievable."
The next decision for Warren is where he will go to college next year. Syracuse, Auburn, Stanford, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Navy are all in the running to add some "pulse" to their squads.
Rutgers and Syracuse are the only schools recruiting Warren to play another position other than quarterback. Rutgers is recruiting him to play safety. Warren said the Syracuse coaching staff told him they just want to get him out on the field.
Whether SU is the most attractive school to Warren remains to be seen. He already visited once and said Syracuse is in his top three. Another thing Syracuse has in its favor is Warren's former teammate, offensive lineman Josh White, who now plays for the Orange.
Warren said he looks up to 2006 Heisman Trophy winner and former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith because he not only has a similar playing style, but Smith was also a hybrid quarterback that was recruited to play a different position.
Trying to be the next Troy Smith puts a lot of pressure on a young quarterback. Then again, being the heart and soul of a team so much so that your nickname is "The Pulse" prepared Warren well.
"There was pressure at first," Warren said. "I was a young quarterback and there was pressure, but I learned to deal with pressure. You know, pressure busts (things), but mine really hasn't busted too many yet. So I deal with it."
Bailey Speaks about Syracuse
Antwon Bailey committed to Syracuse last month, a day before Halloween. Bailey couldn't be reached for comment but did speak with Scout.com about his commitment.
Bailey credited the players and the coaching staff that convinced him to give his verbal commitment to SU. The positive attitude about turning the program around was also a plus, he told Matt Alkire of Scout.com.
Bailey is a two-star running back for St. John's (D.C.) College High School. So far this season, Bailey has led his team to an 8-2 record. On the ground, Bailey has amassed more than 1,300 yards and has found the end zone 21 times.
Bailey is listed at 5-foot-7, but some say he's really 5-foot-6, which is extremely small for a running back. Syracuse beat out Army and Navy to land Bailey.
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