Could Corey Holmes be the recruiting gem Syracuse football has been looking for? No matter who you ask, the standout wide receiver is one of the best talents in the country. He comes in at #75 on the ESPN 150 list of overall players in the nation. He sits at #228 on the Rivals 250 best prospects, and is the 31st wideout on that list.
He plays for one of the elite football factories anywhere, St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He’s getting top-of-the-line coaching, he’s in one of the most competitive regions of the country, and he has scholarship offers from almost every national power. Clemson, Florida, FSU, Arkansas, Auburn, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford, Wisconsin are all in on Holmes.
So how could SU possibly crack into the list of finalists Holmes seriously considers? It’s a two-part plan. First, George McDonald. Second, his dad. GMcD has been indefatigable on the recruiting trail since he took over as offensive coordinator after most of the SU staff left for Buffalo. He has connections all over Florida, was the wide receivers coach for Miami, and is constantly shaking the bushes in the Sunshine State for talent. Just this week The Fizz discussed his potential attempt to lure three Blanche Ely teammates (Pompano Beach) to the Hill.
McDonald helped piece together a respectable class after most felt it would be chipped apart with Doug Marrone’s departure. He also has proven to have charisma, charm, and a unique ability to connect with student-athletes. So you never count out GMcD no matter who he goes up against.
But the secret weapon may well be Corey’s dad, David Holmes, a defensive back for Syracuse in the late ’80s. He told Syracuse.com:
“He knows how I feel about Syracuse. He knows I’m a die-hard Orangeman. But he also knows that the choice has to be his. He’s the one that has to go to school, put on a uniform and represent himself, the family and the university.”
And so like jump-start cables connecting to the car engine, the two elements could mean a huge coup for SU. McDonald started recruiting Corey back with the Hurricanes, and has remained in close contact. Because of his dad’s roots, Corey attended Syracuse’s football camp back before McDonald was even on the Hill. Because of both, Corey was supposed to drop by the Orange Spring Game, but his connection flight was canceled. Either way, Corey plans to visit CNY this summer with his dad.
SU fans should keep an eye on Corey over the next few weeks. He’ll sit down and boil down his list to a more manageable number of schools still in the hunt. If McDonald and his dad have any say it in, Syracuse will be part of that list. Syracuse has sought to win a huge, national recruiting battle for years as it climbs its way back on the map. Sometimes you need a little Lady Luck to beat the big dogs. Maybe this one has it.
Posted: D.A.
30 responses to “Could Florida WR Corey Holmes Be Syracuse’s Elusive Recruiting “Big Fish”?”
@D.A.
Great article D.A. and thanks you for the information. let’s hope he decides to come here to play.
@D.A.
I know that you must have a lot of stuff on your plate that doesn’t get put into print here. This is not me bitching or ranting because I feel that you do a good job with this website. But I feel there are two stories in your article and one of them has been ignored until now.
Corey would be(without a doubt)a huge get for Syracuse. But what about David Holmes his father? I often wonder what happens to the Syracuse players after graduation. Do they make good or do they fall by the way side with no-one caring? Here we have a player from the 1987 undefeated team that shares with his son his distaste for Auburn University and who has become the Chief of Police for the city he lives in.
Wouldn’t his life story make a great human interest story that should be reported on?
I D.A. for one thinks that it would be.
Where did Ishaq Williams (*****) parents go to school again? I forget…
@Aaron;
I don’t believe that Ishaq’s father played football for Syracuse University where as Corey’s father David Holmes did.
For as long as I can remember,I’ve always heard that athletics and academics don’t mix. Well I believe the “David Holmes story” proves that a moot point and discards that argument. Don’t you?
So for me your comparing apples to oranges and that makes a big difference Aaron.
Last week a few members on this website discussed the possibility of ex coach Doug Marrone shutting out past palyers from the practices. Just think of the wisdom and knowledge of what it takes to play D1 ball that could be passed on to all of these young players. I believe David Holmes could be a huge bonus to the program if he were given the chance.
Sorry Ron the answer from DA should be why no SUPER HSFB talent from NYC/LI coming CUSE way??? Yes lack of regular winning seasons(thanks GROB @ dougie) and 1/2 full dome is part of the issue, but by no means the whole problem!! Huge story but DA and other media types sit on that story. Other SU programs get NYC/LI top talent!! Why not SUFB get some of that cream. There’s a reason the media will cover some other foolish sport stories, but this story smacks SU in the face every year yet no answer for it!! WHY?? DA and your media posse’ are the only one’s than can get answers on that question!! Do your responsibility!!
Terry,sometimes we might be better off NOT knowing everything we want!JMO!
@Terry;
If the story about Marrone closing out the past players from attending practices and allowing them to talk to the current players is true,then I feel a valuable commodity has been wasted.
If I was in Coach Shafers position I would go out and recruit past players like David Holmes to be ambassadors for the school and help in the recruitment of players.
What better person than a person who has played for the university and has become an important part of the community that he lives in by becoming the Chief of Police.
The past players Terry are the people who will connect the past to the present and help in turning this program around.
This has been thus far an exasperating recruiting season for the football program and fans. Never before has there been such apropondernce of offers to high level prospects.The real fun will be when the fruits of these efforts become reality.
“GMcD has been indefatigable on the recruiting trail since he took over as offensive coordinator ”
Nice use of indefatigable. Didn’t think I’d read such big words on this website
Here’s interesting scenario if su gets Kj Williams a 4* Star recruit and cousin of AJ Long who is listed as a 4* recruit on espn and Get holmes a 4* star recruit u now see a potent offense begin to form for 2015 with George Morris in the back field.
AJ,I said almost exactly that in the previous football thread….the deadly size and speed on the wings would open up our rugged running game if offensive line is just adequate!btw Ron,McEachern HS,Ga Ath Tymashian Clemons offered today!
AJ, are you AJ? Don’t talk about yourself in the third person. Ha. I think I heard strong rumors that KJ was close to a verbal with Michigan. That does not end the recruiting, but makes it a bit tougher ifit does happen. AJ is the real opportunity to bring in KJ I think. That said, I love the idea of utilizing all the angles we may have. St.T. Aquinas is coached by Rocco Cassullo. I have yet to hear if that is a good thing or a bad thing for SU (he is a former SU football player, but his dad, a former coach under P and Marrone, apparently didn’t get along with Marrone and they parted ways after one season.) his dad, our OC, and his HS coach, that is a lot of Orange around Corey (another Corey!?) I can’t know what goes on in the head of a highschool recruit, but I wonder if having one stud receiver pushes the other away, or draws him in due to the momentum.
Russ NYC/LI are in SU’s backyard. If weeds are growing in your neighbors yard you don’t want them to spread to your yard. If there’s something there(other national write-ups have questioned why SU is so poor in NYC/LI too)then get it out and correct it. If nothing is there which I doubt, because SU is huge in NYC/LI then get that out. But to do nothing is nuts!!
Russ I hope to see SU a different type of program in the NE. A Boise St/TCU/Houston kind of team. Wild passing game with a quality run game. A bunch of nats at WR, with RB’s running over the D. Not a 4 yard gain and a cloud of rubber(Dome LOL)! An exciting type of game will sell better. SU has to catch the eyes of talent. Yes winning is important, but better yet winning with color is even better!!
The problem with SU recruiting right now is as simple as this:
Big Time Recruits…..Want To Play Big Time Football
Big Time Recruits No Longer See SU Football as Big Time!!!!!
Look at all the kids that comment: “I don’t know very much about SU football” I bet they know about Alabama…and Florida
I have never heard one SU BBall recruit say..I don’t know very much about the CUSE….I am going to have to check them out. Have You?
dr Bill your right on it!! But I also feel with success(SUBB) comes more good PR. Even though JB’s team is getting that dirty image back again-recently!! Its not what you want recruits to hear about either. And Dr Gross really doesn’t put the time into SUFB. He’s got this idea of letting it work its self out. SUFB is clean as far as we know. But with constant winning that changes everything. Rutgirls shows us that recently!! BE hurt SU in the long run. The BE made SUBB what it is today. Oh yeah the dome helped JB’s teams to. But that was built for SUFB. Most forget that too!! Recruits know about SUFB. Yes, maybe not as well as Alabama or LSU or USC or ND or MICH or whatever!! But SUFB is not playing out in Iceland. Its playing in an atmosphere of regular non-winning and fan distrust. Hopefully HCSS will change that, but we won’t know for awhile on that. Faith is the only thing REAL SUFB fans have had in the last couple of decades. Win and fill the Dome and talent will know SUFB is here to stay!! Its that simple!!
I go to a powerhouse private highschool in Texas in terms of football. Senior Macan Wilson is going to Northwestern then 2 juniors I know well have laundry lists of schools : Mavin Saunders (rivals 4 star with all SEC offers) and Thomas dillon who has BYU maryland Colorado and PAC-12 type schools like Oregon ready to offer then 3 kids in my grade already have offers from LSU Michigan state those types (I’m a sophomore) u mention syracuse and they say the lacrosse school (Cus I play lacrosse) the only way any of them would go to syracuse is for hoops simply because lacrosse and basketball are of higher importance at cuse and overshadow football a little where everywhere else it’s football the. Other sports when football isn’t head honcho then recruits don’t like it they want to be the big man on campus and when your Kj Williams and you can be the man at Michigan or be equal to Henry schoonmaker (probably my favorite player because of his intensity and because he goes to cuse and plays lax out of Oregon which like Texas is a non traditional hot bed for lax players) while to us that may be fine to them it isn’t they are 4 years away from being NFL stars and to have guys whose relevance will be done after college be considered equal at cuse diminishes the glory a top notch recruit wants Marrone realized that which is why he took the angle that we are a family were everyone it equal … There is a method to the madness and unfortunately if we don’t get Holmes I don’t think we will get a big time recruit for awhile
Interesting viewpoint CDL and view most of us older posters need to consider!Unfortunately Lax is the fastest growing sport in the country and in the NE is part of the reason for the decline/lessor #s of kids playing football!(also mothers wont let there kids play)..
I understand what your saying “Cuse don’t luse” but, what young guys like yourself need to understand is that the NFL, team owners and the fans are tired of prima donnas acting as such, on and off the field. NFL wants kids with good character, guys that have worked hard to get the opportunity to get paid millions to play a game, not guys who feel they are entitled because they were superstars on their HS or college team.
The “glory” top notch recruits want won’t happen for a while as they won’t see the field for a couple years because they have other top notch players already in front of them at those top notch schools. 13 schools had 5 or more guys drafted this year, 19, SU included, with 3 or 4 guys drafted. SU is on it’s way back. Coach Mac rebuilt the program from average to very good in his time here. Coach Pasqualoni maintained it for a while and then things started to erode after the McNabb years, right about he time you were born, except for Dwight Freeney’s senior season. Coach Robinson nearly buried the program. Coach Marrone brought SU back from the brink. I believe HCSS will continue the recent success.
Best to you Cdl.
One aspect that was forgotten is that St. Thomas Aquinas HC is Rocco Casullo. A 1995 Cicero-North Syracuse graduate as well as the eldest son of Bob Casullo. When HCMFSS was hired Rocco was quoted as saying that he has tremendous respect for Scott Shafer.
I thought this might be interesting to unknowing Cuse fans
Mike,Norma?…is that u Mr H awk? @Ron,check rivals recruiting site on Corey Holmes and Curtis Samuels to see there top 5??
@Chad,ast.coach McD must be in a lot of ears…we seem to be in it recruiting wise mostly with top WRs!?!
@Russell MacEachern;
I did Russell, at this point in time,it doesn’t look good for Syracuse to land either one. But anything and everything can happen from now until NLOI day.
Thanks for directing me to that website Russell,it will be one more for me to look at to see what’s happening.
U see why I didnt mention “some of the teams”?
Well Terry my prediction on having both of the Lacrosse Teams playing for the National Championships almost came true this weekend. If it weren’t for Maryland running the clock out by holding the ball for the last four minutes of the game,the womens lacrosse team would be playing in the title game later on Sunday.
The mens game was just as exciting,scoring the go ahead goal with 9 seconds left and holding on for a 9 to 8 victory.
Syracuse vs Duke for the National Championship doesn’t get any better than that.
To everyone have a peaceful Memorial Day and enjoy your families while having your barbacue’s and picnics.
But most of all have a moment of silence to remember all of the men and women who sacrificed their lives,who’ve returned home from the wars that we’ve fought,less fotunate, so that you could have your moment of happiness and freedom.
I say thank you to all who serverd and gave their lives protecting me and my family from harm. You all have my respect,your a special breed,don’t let anyone tell you different. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
thank you.
Same to you and yours Ron Im proud to call you friend!
@Russell MacEachern;
Russell,what’s up with the female AD Julie Hermann? If all is proven that she did indeed harass and call all the members of the Tenn. Womens volleyball Team names and belittle them. Then it’s time that she too is fired from that job.
By the looks of things,this Mike Rice episode has really stirred the pot at Rutgers University. Hope everything gets straightened out there.
I never liked the PC or “rainbow” hire but I think Sean Frazier from Wisc had issues too?I think he gave liquor to minors!I thought local guy (Fiore)from SB should have gotten the job or better yet Barchi should have grown a pair and stood by Scarlet Tim Pernetti..(I really thought he was orn for the job)!!Loads of ppl are coming to her JH defense tho but personally Jersey politicos have been using RU as a feeding trough and the Newhouse Star Ledger and espin are pissed at RUs elevation to the B1G and Delaney knows whats going on and ain’t falling for it!!!Dr Barchi is out of his class as president at state U and Christie needs him to merge the UNJMD school back where it belongs!!(part of RU)
[…] Could Florida WR Corey Holmes Be Syracuse’s Elusive… OrangeFizz Could Corey Holmes be the recruiting gem Syracuse football has been looking for? No matter who you ask, the standout wide receiver is one of the best talents in the country. He comes in at #75 on the ESPN 150 list…[read more] […]
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