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The Daily OrangeFB | Greetings from Florida
The future of SU's secondary has roots in the Sunshine State
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 10/15/08, 12:43 AM EST Section: Sports
"Whenever you have young guys that are getting on the field," Scott said, "that's when you see a team rebuilding."
But fielding all these Florida recruits begs the question: How do guys from that far down South end up in Central New York?
How, considering all the schools recruiting in the state (not just Florida, Florida State and Miami, but also growing regional
powers like Central Florida and South Florida)?
How, considering the Syracuse program's recent struggles?
How, considering the nasty Central New York winter?
Easy, said Jim Salgado, the Syracuse cornerbacks and secondary coach. Salgado recruited Scott, Graham and another St. Thomas Aquinas graduate, freshman running back Jeremiah Harden.
There's a massive pool of players to choose from, Salgado said.
And Syracuse has pull, despite its recent pitfalls. Names like Donovan McNabb and Dwight Freeney still ring out.
"This is a great school, with a great education and a lot of history and tradition," Salgado said. "And we've had players from down there come up here and be successful.
"There are former players that are still down there now working, coaching and helping, and they're always talking Syracuse."
Olindo Mare, who graduated in 1996 and now kicks for the Seattle Seahawks, played high school football in Florida. So did All-American defensive backs like Markus Paul (class of 1988) and Kevin Abrams (class of 1996). And Donovan Darius, the former Syracuse and Jacksonville Jaguar star, mentored McKinnon and urged him northward.
McKinnon met Holmes at area recruit combines, and the two stayed in touch. They've lived together these past two seasons, bunkering down in their South Campus apartment most of the time.
They keep to themselves. After Syracuse's 55-13 loss to Penn State on Sept. 13, most of the team piled onto a bus outside the Carrier Dome. Holmes and McKinnon walked past the bus, heading off by themselves instead.
But fielding all these Florida recruits begs the question: How do guys from that far down South end up in Central New York?
How, considering all the schools recruiting in the state (not just Florida, Florida State and Miami, but also growing regional
powers like Central Florida and South Florida)?
How, considering the Syracuse program's recent struggles?
How, considering the nasty Central New York winter?
Easy, said Jim Salgado, the Syracuse cornerbacks and secondary coach. Salgado recruited Scott, Graham and another St. Thomas Aquinas graduate, freshman running back Jeremiah Harden.
There's a massive pool of players to choose from, Salgado said.
And Syracuse has pull, despite its recent pitfalls. Names like Donovan McNabb and Dwight Freeney still ring out.
"This is a great school, with a great education and a lot of history and tradition," Salgado said. "And we've had players from down there come up here and be successful.
"There are former players that are still down there now working, coaching and helping, and they're always talking Syracuse."
Olindo Mare, who graduated in 1996 and now kicks for the Seattle Seahawks, played high school football in Florida. So did All-American defensive backs like Markus Paul (class of 1988) and Kevin Abrams (class of 1996). And Donovan Darius, the former Syracuse and Jacksonville Jaguar star, mentored McKinnon and urged him northward.
McKinnon met Holmes at area recruit combines, and the two stayed in touch. They've lived together these past two seasons, bunkering down in their South Campus apartment most of the time.
They keep to themselves. After Syracuse's 55-13 loss to Penn State on Sept. 13, most of the team piled onto a bus outside the Carrier Dome. Holmes and McKinnon walked past the bus, heading off by themselves instead.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Orange Man Group
posted 10/17/08 @ 1:37 PM EST
Andy,
Good article; one correction: "High school recruits flow out of the state like a never-ending faucet, a tantamount to the abundance of speed and athleticism available. (Continued…)
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