Early signing period: 2020 DT Josh Ilaoa signs with Syracuse

Welcome to college football’s 2019 early signing period! Despite the disappointment on the field this fall, the Syracuse Orange are hoping to add key components to get back to bowl eligibility in 2020. As each player signs, we’ll be posting profiles here on TNIAAM. Next up is Josh Ilaoa.

Twitter feed: @honchojosh

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

High School: Mallard Creek

Position: Defensive tackle

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 280 lbs.

Commitment date: July 4, 2019

Ratings: Three stars by ESPN and 247

Other offers: Ilaoa picked Syracuse over offers from Illinois, Colorado State and Hawaii among others.

Dino’s predicted nickname: Dino’s going to call him “Do It” because that’s what Josh’s name in Hawaiian translates to in English.

Highlights:

Player outlook: Syracuse will be returning McKinley Williams, Josh Black and Curtis Harper along the interior of the defensive line but the Orange will need to have depth behind them. Depending on how quickly Josh can show that he can hold up in the middle will determine how much he’ll see the field next Fall.