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After three commitments yesterday, and another two this morning, some may have thought the Syracuse Orange were done for the weekend on the recruiting front. Ends up, not so much.
As Scout's Mike McAllister reported on Twitter, SU added two additional names to the growing 2016 recruiting class this afternoon:
BREAKING: Three-star S/WR Devin Butler has committed to Syracuse https://t.co/1cjX3M51cK pic.twitter.com/oGDx8PMEvA
— Mike McAllister (@McAllisterScout) January 24, 2016
BREAKING: Homestead (FL) Senior High S/OLB Rashad Smith has flipped from FAU to Syracuse https://t.co/4uXN7wjzxo pic.twitter.com/NZxRZxozkj
— Mike McAllister (@McAllisterScout) January 24, 2016
First, Butler: While some services have him at safety (where he split time at in high school), he'll be playing wide receiver at Syracuse. The former Maryland commit is going to have to adjust a little bit to the wideout position, but his speed should put him at an advantage. As Syracuse.com detailed the other day, SU was competing with track programs for the quick (4.4-second 40-yard dash) Upper Marlboro, Md. star. He's Syracuse's first Maryland commit this cycle and the second wide receiver after California product Sean Riley committed last week as well.
Rashad Smith is a Florida Atlantic flip, but don't let the Conference USA commitment turn you off. The Homestead, Fla. outside linebacker also had Bowling Green and Temple offers, and was considered a 3-star over at 247 Sports. At 6-foot-2 and 184 pounds, Smith fits the build SU seems to be targeting with this Tampa-2 scheme. He's the third linebacker commit (behind Andrew Armstrong and Kenneth Ruff), and the sixth Florida commit in the 2016 cycle.
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So that makes for 20 players in the class of 2016 now. Just a week or so again, there was doubt that Syracuse's class would be able to rebound from a slew of defections. Instead, the group of 12 visitors this weekend yielded seven commits thus far, with more talent coming into town next weekend.
While the team still has just two Northeast recruits, you can certainly look past that (and then some) with the influx of Florida talent, along with other well-regarded three-stars from Michigan, Ohio and elsewhere.
You can check out both players' Hudl highlights below. Welcome, Devin and Rashad!