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Syracuse Gets First HS 2012 Football Commit

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Letters of intent for athletes in the recruiting class of 2011 aren’t even signed and sent yet, but the Syracuse University football program already has a jump start on next year’s class. One local player – lineman Ben Barrett of Christian Brothers Academy -- gave Orange head coach Doug Marrone a verbal commitment for 2012 on Sunday morning. Barrett, a first-team Class AA-1 selection for the Brothers last season, had a simple reason for making his choice early – "It’s always been my top school. It was almost a no-brainer for me," said Barrett, who becomes the second commitment in SU’s class of 2012. Barrett, 6-foot-4½ and 255 pounds, played offensive tackle and defensive end for coach Joe Casamento at CBA. Barrett said he was also being recruited by Penn State and Akron. Barrett’s father, J. Patrick Barrett, is a prominent Republican and a Syracuse University trustee, and Ben said he knows some people are going to think he got his scholarship because of his dad. What people might not realize, Ben said, is that he gave up all other sports but football in middle school and has been lifting weights four days a week since then. Barrett said he can bench press more than 300 pounds and can squat almost 400. F'ckin Akron.