Syracuse has offered unknown high school football prospects before, sometimes it’s even been a player‚Äôs first scholarship. Just a few days ago, the Orange made a dream come true for RB Ervin Philips of West Haven, CT. The speedster received his initial FBS offer from SU and was more than just excited after hearing the news:
“I was thrilled, but more shocked I have to say. I got home from practice last Friday and got a call from Coach Bullough and he offered me. It’s a blessing to get an offer from a great program like Syracuse.”
Philips has interest from a total of nine schools, including ACC partners Pittsburgh and Boston College, as well as his home state Connecticut, Maryland, Temple, Villanova, and Maine. SU was the first to offer the 5’11” 176 lb. running back. Syracuse Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bullough relayed the news to him, but Philips told The Fizz about his specific talk with OC George McDonald:
“He was great. He really thinks my agility and speed stand out. He told me he watched my highlight tape, and that’s exactly what he told me stood out. He really liked my quickness on the field.”
McDonald is at it again trying to add personnel and eventually build a potent SU offense. It’s bold that SU is the first to offer Philips, but McDonald must vision that agility and quickness in his playbook. He’s establishing his roots in the Sunshine State, while also staying local in the West Haven High School star. Philips has the numbers to back up his abilities. He rushed for over 750 yards last year to go along with 19 touchdowns. Although his primary position is in the backfield, Philips told The Fizz what separates him from other typical RBs:
“My versatility helps me stand out from other players. I play running back, but I can also play in the slot. I’m a good catcher. I can even play quarterback sometimes if needed. I think that’s what makes me a difference maker, my versatility.”
Versatility is certainly a quality SU football wants more of. It’s the framework Scott Shafer values. Philips caught over 300 yards receiving for West Haven and scored 3 touchdowns in the process. He even took reps at QB.
Philips also spoke repeatedly about his love for competition. With the Orange on its way into its debut season in the ACC, Philips was amped about the possible opportunity:
“I admire competition, and especially when a team or program is moving into a new conference. I know they look like the underdog. I like the idea of coming into something like that and competing day in and day out. Coach McDonald sounded excited over the phone with me so that got me even more excited.”
The move to a major conference obviously is a carrot for high school athletes. Even if Syracuse isn’t immediately successful (Debby-Downer Alert), the word and attention is out there for this football program. Darryl Gross has tried to push the brand of SU football back to where it once was in the past. Kids such as Philips noticing the impact is great to see.
Philips hopes to hear soon from Pittsburgh and a potential offer from them.Syracuse lost out on three-star OL Alex Officer and DE Justin Moody to the Panthers in February’s draft class. But Philips mentioned multiple times he can‚Äôt forget Syracuse being the first school to offer him. The Orange provides his first opportunity to play football at the next level of his career. Philips hopes to visit the team and personnel during summer camp, and eventually make a trip up to the Hill. It‚Äôs still plenty early in the recruiting brigade, but watch for possibly yet another battle between SU and Pitt for an ambitious prospect.
Posted: Brendan Glasheen
69 responses to “Syracuse Beats Everyone to Connecticut RB Ervin Philips, Offers First”
@Terry;
Coach Shafer and crew are really after a ton of recruits that have size and speed. I hope a ton of them respond by committing to Syracuse on NLO signing day.
I labeled Coach mc Donald as the “mailman” and cuz he delivers. This new staff is all over the recruiting game like we ought to be.
I wish them the best of luck.
GO SU!!!!
The SU brand is too big not to capatalize on.. facility upgrades, which would be one of the newer upgrades, if it happens, nationally….you do that correctly, with state of the art yatta yatta… recruits will eat it up,,like the Melo Center… ADDG is all about making a splash! If he pulls off the coins for that, its a game changer.
Watching this player he does have speed, strength and very good balance. I could see him in 2-3 years being 5″11″ 195lbs and a capable back up to Morris.
Coach P at Uconn was very aware of Outlow,Ervin and Cooper but lost Outlow to BC and not sure if he even offered the other 2?The fans are disgusted with his tight connection to GDL and want both replaced due to vanilla or super bland O and the boring image they think he projects!They also think the old fashioned coaches held them back in realignment!Does any of this sound familiar?
Personally I like Coach P but wouldnt hire him as a HEAD coach today but I love his loyalty and ethics!Hes a decent recruiter and coordinator but just not a good face of a program!They “Uconn” have to win 8 games this year or hes gone!
LouR-Coach McD still needs to deliver. Its early, I know, but 2 verbals is still below the national average. BC and Louisville are kicking but with more than twice as many verbals as SU!!
Agree… although there’s a new HC, 2 commits is somewhat thin considering the roll FHCDM (F- former lol) was on. The summer months have been kind to SU in ’11 & ’12, I expect a talent influx by july…
Uconn chat… I was surprised to see a handful of Uconn guys go in the NFL draft. Rutgers did good as well, and the last real BIG EAST DRAFT was well represented… HCPP is a quality guy, in UConn’s case, any successful coach will move on, they’re lucky to have him.. & I’d bet HCPP could beat a randy edsall team easy?
* sidebar: are recruits going to wait to see wat product hits the Dome b4 committing… if so, Did HCDM & HCGR left us in similar positions?
Dip,I agree on RE whose on the hot seat might be the biggest joke of a HC in CFB and MD was in full revolt b4 the AD forced holding his nose to hire super recruiter Mike Locksley to get players to bail him (RE) out with the fanbase since they just hired him with loads of grarantees!And we thought former HCDM was unappealing or attractive to recruits?UConn blew a great oppurtunity to make a big splash hire and make MD look stupid!…but they hired “the mummy”!!(their words)
Dip,enjoy the diversity of your thoughts on CFB!!keep them coming neff!
Terry,I agree Id like to see a more even flow or interest of commits coming in commensurate with all the other regional players (BC,RU,PSU)tho Pitt also is off to a slow start!
Coach PP is to old school in this world of modern college football. He’s going no where especially at UCONN!!
Russ,
I got another kid from NJ for you. Do you know about the WR Saeed Blacknall from Manalapan (N.J.) High School? Came out with his top 5 yesterday listed in order LSU,Alabama, Notre Dame, Florida State and Ohio State. Seems to be a lot of guys from NJ listed in the top 150 on espn this season. Kinda sucks that SU is not in on any of these kids.
Carlton,Im hearing OSU in lead with ND/FSU close behind and claims still undecided but wont wait long to commit!(summer?)btw,Kam Lott 3* Suncoast hs,Fla committed to RU this morning!!Im starting to worry about KJ Wms working with UMich on possible early commit??Your right Carlton,its sux!!Ill fill you in “if/as” I hear anything NYC/NJ/Pa recruiting news!…Sometimes NJ only has 1 or 2 Top150 guys but its only a popularity contest..
I wonder if DB Kam Lott is related to Ronnie Lott?
Peppers visiting RU tomorrow!I still think Michigan for Jabril!!
btw,someone who knows Jabril says HEs NOT infatuated with the SEC!!
^Kamren Lott^ 1st Coast HS, Jacksonville,Fla not Suncoast…my mistake..!!!
@Russell MacEachern;
This the kind of help that is missing from the recruiting of top athletes. This paragraph was taken from am artoicle posted on the syr.com website.
More than 20 years later, Syracuse is in the running for a commitment from Holmes’ son, Corey, a four-star wide receiver out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Corey is ranked No. 75 on ESPN’s list of the top 150 prospects and has scholarship offers from roughly 30 Division I schools.
When the recruiting season is over and NLOI signing day approaches,I feel “we the fans” are going to more than pleasantly surprised with the results.
Everyone needs to read that article.
Go Coach Shafer and Coach McDonald.
GoCuse;
Ron,due to lack of news from the sourses whose “job it is to dig” sometimes we have to rely on each other to show them the way…Terry was on to it long b4 most of us!!btw I offered up 5 goats to Zeus so KJ Williams would commit to us!!So Imagine if C.Holmes does too?What a WR corp we would have to make our running game all the more deadly!!
Ron,thanks for the good info..I think we’ll end up with a top 40 class this year and as we win they’ll steadily improve under HCSS!!
Ron,1 more thing…remember months ago I told u guys when everyone was saying “what about the ACC network?” and I told you its bought and sold in the shi*ty contract to Raycom?I forgot about mentioning it cause I was offline during the hub bub!!No one would listen to what I was trying to say!Nepotism Ron nepotism!
@Russell MacEachern;
You and I had discussed the possibility of Coach Shafer pulling off a coup by getting a pair of players from the same JC college out of Lackawanna PA.
I read today that he’s after 3* 6’5″ 300 LB OG Jarell Braxton and 4* 6’5′ 315 LB OT Jermaine Eluemunor.
Someone asked earlier Russ,why we had’t gone into St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.and have we forgotten all about that region. Well this article confirms the answer to those questions. let’s all hope we’re successful.
Like I said earlier,when it’s all said and done the players that commit for the class of 2014 are going to surpise all of us.
Russell,nepotism goes on more than you might think and the sad part is,that the people who they give the jobs too aren’t qualified to do it,and end up making other employees miserable.
@Russell MacEachern;
I see that you still have a sense of humor.
Your “5 goats offering to Zeus” is really funny. Comments like that is what makes Russell MacEachern the “KING OF THE ONE LINERS”.
Gotta love it Russ,you just gotta love it.
Ha Ha Thanks Ron..I hope along with all the serious stuff I can entertain ya’s!
Ron,how goes the farmers market?Well I hope!Good work if u can get it!
@Russell MacEachern;
It’s going good Russell. I just put in(700 feet)of potatoes. I still have my squash,cucumbers,beets,garlic,onions,watermelon and cantalope to plant yet. I ‘ve put in my tomatoes,cabbage and 3 different pepper plants. Over all,it’s coming along nicely. Thanks for asking.
We have our Memorial Day parade tonight and part of the celebration is the city has invited a man who plays Abraham Lincoln to give the Gettysburgh Address in front of the monument honoring the men who has given their all for their country. It should be something very very special.
To all of the Fizz Family enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend.
Have fun Ron!Im thinking of starting a “gyro” stand due to an sudden abundance of goat meat!
Me and the bride are getting away for dinner tonight(Friday) for peace and quite!! Steak sounds good to me!! Got “old glory” lite up for the weekend too! Bless our soldiers and family/friend who are not here to. GOD BLESS AMERICA!! Have a great and safe holiday!!
Thanks Terry!Bona fortuna to you and the missus!
@Carlton,ur original list seems to be valid from what I hear about Saaed B from Manalapan Hs…looks like SEC “IS in the LEAD” at this point ..not OSU tho UM visited him at school recently leading to speculation!Probly summer decision but ND seems to b behind now!
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