Defensive end Kingsley Jonathan finally ended his long and complicated recruitment process, officially signing with the Syracuse Orange on Wednesday. Jonathan, who moved to North Carolina from Nigeria as a teenager, was initially a highly recruited Class of 2019 prospect, but was forced to reclassify to the Class of 2017 after it was discovered he lied about his age. Syracuse overlooked Jonathan’s concerning past and pursed him anyway.
Twitterfeed: @frozen_dart
Hometown: Mebane, N.C.
High School: Eastern Alamance High School; Saint Frances Academy
Position: Defensive end
Stats: 6’4”, 220 pounds
Commitment Date: September 23, 2016
Ratings: Three stars across the board
Other Offers: Kingsley received offers from Florida State, Louisville, Duke, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among others.
Dino’s Projected Nickname: “King of the d-line”
Highlights:
Player Breakdown:
Defensive end was one of the weakest position groups for Syracuse last year, as SU was forced to play three true freshmen for the majority of the season, and starting two of them in Kendall Coleman and Josh Black. As a freshman, Jonathan most likely won’t be thrown into the fire like last season, but he definitely has an opportunity to develop into a key contributor down the line.
In addition to his large 6’4”, 220-pound frame, Jonathan also has the size to quickly pursue opposing quarterbacks and running backs. The three-star defensive end finished the 2015 season with 104 tackles (44 solo), including eight for loss and five sacks, according to 247Sports. He also added three pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.