Tashon Whitehurst is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound linebacker from Gainesville, FL. He also has a ton of family in the Syracuse area.

So it works out that he's just verbally-committed to play football for the Orange in 2012.

Whitehurst said this evening that his father’s side of the family is basically all from the Syracuse area. He has visited the city but not the campus. He plans to do that in August.

Last season, his first as a starter, Whitehurst said he racked up 124 tackles and made eight sacks. His list of other scholarship offers includes Iowa State, North Carolina State, Marshall, Massachusetts, Western Michigan and North Carolina Central.

As for what set SU apart, aside from the family deal, it was the coaches (yet again).

"I picked Syracuse because of the good relationship I built with their coaching staff. Since they first offered me we have really gotten to know each other. I did my research and in the end I felt comfortable committing to them," Whitehurst said. "I am going to Syracuse to make something happen. Coach [Doug] Marrone and that staff have done some really good things since they have been there. He has a really good coaching staff."

You might be wondering why we're getting a 3-star LB from Gainesville instead of Florida. Turns out the Gators weren't interested in the hometown star. Just more motivation for him.