I’m rooting for Zaire Franklin. Not because Syracuse has a verbal from an extremely rare commodity: a potential 4-star linebacker. Not because he could be the anchor to a great defense one day. Not because it proves the coaching change in January did nothing to stem the tide of SU’s football recruiting.
I’m rooting for Franklin because of one quote. One sentence that told me all I need to know about the young man. Once he decided to verbally give his commitment to the Orange, he personally called all the other coaches who had offered him scholarships. He didn’t want them finding out via the internet or through the grapevine.
“At the end of the day, they all gave me an opportunity to, for one, go to college for free, and do something I really want. You just gotta show your appreciation.”
And there you have it. The ultimate clarity for a highly-sought after athlete. Something far too rare in today’s high school and college athletics.
We all (including this site) breathlessly talk about players from the time they’re 16 years old, dissecting their every move, endlessly discussing where they might land.
Twitter, Facebook, message boards, and comments sections like The Fizz can whip into a frenzy over a recruit. Coaches are deluging them with letters and calls. Reporters are begging for a few minutes. Recruiting experts are detailing their every step. Some athletes begin to feel like they’re entitled to all the attention. They believe they’re celebrities above all else.
But at its very core, a college scholarship is a chance to get an education for free. Something most of us would kill for. And to follow a path that we truly want? Well, that’s icing on the cake. And Franklin sees all of that, and he’s only a high school junior.
Well done, Zaire. You can suit up for my school any day.
Posted: D.A.
293 responses to “Syracuse LB Commit Zaire Franklin Shows Tremendous Maturity & Clarity”
@DA;
Excellant commentary DA. I’ve read that this young man is heavily envolved with community service.
I’ve put a challenge out to members of the FIZZ Family to join me in helping this young man feed the needy after he arrives at Syracuse and set’s up the soup lines around the holidays.
The move today is getting the talent pool to verbal early to your University then hang on tight until the 1st week in February!! SU as of now is only ahead of two majors(Neb is one, I forgot the other one LOL) in ranking of the mid-60s. I know, I know, I know its early, but still concerning. There’s many ahead of SU. Some Uni’s ahead Of SU not even close to SU’s ability!! I feel June is the month that SU has to get some more verbals. Like maybe to 8-10 total at end of month!! Lets wait and see what happens!! Damn though its like my real early days of Christmas Eve just can’t wait to see those presents from SANTA or er HCSS/Coach McD.
@Ron..soup lines? It could happen.. it’d be more than some.
@terry.. its a real concern that SU is getting out recruited the last decade, by lesser Athletic Programs. That said… it is the Silver Age of SU recruiting! Aj Long, like @Derek mentioned, is a 80+ graded 4star recruit on ESPN.com. Franklin is getting positive attention, and may be upgrade worthy by season’s end?
* its a nice jesture he called other head coaches, @fizz should salute his “colored” parents, for raising a respectfulnice young man! Although I would question a university’s ethics who RETAINS A COACH WHO USED THE TERM “COLORED” DURING COMPETITION???? Lol…
* how can an American be a USA sport fan and a racist?
** how can an American be poor and republican?
*** how can an American be book smart & world dumb?
Nailed it. Nothing to add. Quality young man and a great ball player to boot.
Ut O Dip,I have a hunch you’ll be getting a friend’s response on the political “republican” comment!!Ha ha..
@Ron,I’m impressed with Terry and Dips understanding of the recruiting game!!Also with Zaire’s humility and offer of helping the needy!Rare kid!!
Ron,I know me a you feel like Terry in the off season getting any decent recruit let alone a 3 or 4* is exactly like xmas gifts to us fans!!
I hear bells jingling don’t you. Its getting closer.
RD really SU is still behind. 2 great gets don’t make it yet. Show me first. I heard enough of double crossed words from dougie and his crew. about building a program. The #’s now say SU is still behind in talent NATION wide. Hopefully it will improve by the end of June 2013 and improve every month after that. Help us SANTA. Hell I even throw in the EASTER BUNNY to!!
@Terry,what is it 87 days or so till kickoff?
BAH HUMBUG!!! This Conner Center kid from Albany is playing games again as other NYS kids have done recently!! I wonder if Mr Williams(NYC/LI) got to this kid to. I hope HCSS and Coach McD tell this no skilled player to hit the road. They have said that if a player is not interested in SU they don’t want them. Lets hope HCSS sticks to his word here. “IT” will pay off in the future!!
DA again the ugly word of these talented NYS HSFB players jerking around SU is there=JOKE!! Do your job there’s a story there. Maybe not a Pulitzer Prize winner, but one of great interest to us sincere SUFB fans!! Why do these players refuse SU. Its more than a recent lack of winning on the part of SU or its facilities. This Center kid has NO PROVEN SKILLS and he says he wants to “look around” at other places. HUH?????
Terry I read the story on this kid too. Who in sams hell does he think he is? Didn’t play any high school football,figures he has the skill set to play the game!!! What just because he’s 6’8″ and goes 250 lbs.
He turns down a scholarship to visit Wisconsin and Colorado.
Coach just say good bye to the kid,and give the scholarship to someone who really needs it.
Terry,the sad thing about this whole mess is,I thought a week ago that he was coming to Syracuse.
@Ron,I believe Terry’s got a good point!!Notice none of our commits are from NY/NJ yet?Are we cursed?Don’t they know were going to the ACC?The ACC card was supposed to help local recruiting!!(oh,I forgot Naz but is he even rated?)1 from Pa and 1 from Tenn. and Naz!!Most local school’s except Pitt have 10 or better and are in the top 25 recruiting including Daz at BC…??what? BC?yes,they’re ranked about 18th but remember this is a new staff from out in the mid west but how about some mid west commits,I figure we’ll get 2 or 3 more this month and hope most are 3*types!All in all tho were doing much better than we have been!
@Russell MacEachern;
In response to the Dippers post,This kid lives in the heart of Liberal Democrat country. Kid’s parents have to be filthy rich for him to throw a $300,000 scholarship away. I know if they were Republicans they would probably talk some sense into their sons head and accept the offer.
@dipper;
outside of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet,I consider myself to be one of the richest men in America. I have a beautiful wife,3 sons that’s given me 6 grandchildren. I wouldn’t trade any of them for all the money in China. Russell,just letting you know,I’m not a Republican either.
This staff will out recruit any previous staff. They will land the big fishes.
@Smitty Section 129;
I agree totally;
@Dipper;
I was just being a little sarcastic with you in my last post. We should keep talking about politics off of this website. I’ll debate with you or anyone on all subjects relating to sports ok.
Did any of you catch 30 on 30 lastnight on ESPN about the fight for John Elway in the 1983 draft.
After watching the politicing that goes on in the draft,I see why Ryan Nassib fell like a lead balloon in this years draft. I also learned as to why Marrone didn’t draft him. The coaches don’t have a say in who gets drafted to their teams.
I came to the conclusion that it’s nothing more than a bunch of Billionares playing games with one another.
Ron,its nice to see at our age were still open to learning but your right…its the owners who spend the money and on most teams have the most say in 1st and 2nd rd draft choices!!After that they generally leave it to the inner circle to fill critical needs in roster’s!!Cheer’s Ron!!This buds on you!!I wondered how long your conservative nature would take to respond!!btw I’m libertarian by choice and 60s JFK democrat by birth
JFK and Bill C man my self. Still wondering about Barack=lately!!
Ron see the article on Thomas Holley on syracuse.com. Wonder if Mr Williams is in his ear. Still no real close story on the no-gets from NYC/LI for SU from local media!!
Smitty is right!! dougie was not gifted at recruting at all.
@Terry;
Yes Terry,I did see that article. I don’t see why we’re wasting our time there trying to recruit a kid that isn’t interested in coming to Syracuse.
I’m waiting to see if he attends the Syracuse Summer camp that’s being held down there this summer and see what his attitude towards the university really is afterwards. Maybe he will change his mind after seeing what our coaches are all about.
Unbelieveable,TE Connor Center spends 4 hrs at CU and commits on the spot?No wonder you guys want to give up on local kids!!I wonder if we didn’t offer would anyone have even noticed Mr Never Played a down!!I really don’t understand how we can give him a position on nothing but his size and potential!Bust!!!
@Russell MacEachern;
After reading more about this kid,never having played football,it’s ok that he decided to go to CU.
I believe this kid has been sheltered and babied all of his life. We need our coaches to coach young men,”not run a day care center”. TE Connor Center probably won’t see any playing time until his senior year or even his 5th year at the school after being redshirt.
I feel the reason that Syracuse doesn’t get any of the good talent from within the state is “Greg Robinson”. Doug Marrones inability to recruit only helped exacerbate the situation. I think it’s going to take Syracuse haveing a couple more winning seasons ending with a bowl invitation before things get turned around. Coach Shafer has the program headed in the right direction.
Another thing that bothers me is that Obama is feiancnd by Jews and 75% of his advisors and appointees are Jews but then you get articles in blogs such as American Thinker and Gateway Pundit claiming that his administration is anti-semitic! I keep trying to point this out but my comments are always censored
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