Doug Marrone Knows How To Throw A Block

by Sean Keeley on Jan 29, 2009 2:20 PM EST

You don't think Doug Marrone is pulling out all the stops on the recruiting trail? Read and learn...

Marrone was scheduled to be in Miami today to try and hang onto defensive back Phillip Thomas of Edison High School. Thomas made a verbal commitment with Syracuse on Sunday but may or may not be taking a last-second weekend visit to Florida State this weekend.

And if you think it's crazy that we're taking guys away from Florida State, how do you feel about the fact that we've got a Tennessee guy thinking about switching it up?

Carl Albert running back David Oku visited Syracuse last weekend and will visit Auburn this weekend. Oku remains orally committed to Tennessee but wants to keep his options open. He has been taking other visits.

New Syracuse running back coach, Stan Drayton, who coached at Tennessee in 2008, invited Oku to visit the Big East school.

“It was cool,” said Oku. “They are definitely in consideration.”

Even if you're not a recruitnik and even Oku doesn't change his mind, you gotta admit this is so much more fun than any other recruiting off-season in recent memory...

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nope.

I refuse to be happy about our recruiting. Only when USC and Florida have to close up because we have stolen all their recruits will I allow myself to take any form pleasure from the offseason.

by NOLACuse on Jan 29, 2009 3:04 PM EST reply actions

… if we could get New York State high school football to produce as many BCS-caliber players per capita as Pennsylvania (which shouldn’t be impossible; PA’s almost as urbanized, and right next door), that would work, too (and would almost inevitably send the Orange to the top 10).

Also, I want a pony.

by drothgery on Jan 29, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

I'm with NOLACuse

until SU has the #1 recruiting class in the country all year, every year, I’ll never be content at heart… I mean, what’s the point of being positive and getting excited over good news after the past four horrendous years

by TheSaltineWarrior on Jan 29, 2009 4:46 PM EST reply actions

I would argue...

…that the point of being positive and excited over good news is BECAUSE of the past four horrendous years!

Robinson was such a horrible, horrible head coach, that there was no hope once it became obvious to all of us (except, ahem, Dr. Gross) that he should have lost his job LAST year. However, he is gone now, so I’m crossing my fingers that Marrone is the guy to turn this around. I think he’s done a decent job with what little time he’s had, and based on the train wreck that GRob left him. I’m only CAUTIOUSLY optimistic, though…I say that so that 86trash resists the urge to flame me!

"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998

by kotite4ever on Jan 29, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions