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We mentioned last week how important the annual spring game is to impress interested recruits. One of those interested recruits who took a trip up to the Hill was 2015 Union City (NJ) athlete Daiquan Kelly.
Kelly is labeled as the coveted “a-word” we have spoken about before on the Fizz. Athletes are hard to come by and can play a crucial role because of their versatility. At 6’3”, 200 lbs, Kelly certainly has to build to be successful especially after his senior season. We have seen players such as Ashton Broyld see early playing time after a position change to wide receiver. Kelly has played wide receiver and free safety in high school, while running a 4.5 40-time. The 3-star recruit has offers from Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia, Michigan State and Boston College.
After his visit to Syracuse this weekend, Kelly put SU on the top of his list. Kelly would be a great recruit to snag to regain prominence in the Garden State. The Orange used to pluck top talent from New Jersey before the Groobers Era, but has struggled to develop a strong pipeline after largely due to Rutgers’ recruiting success under Greg Schiano. Kelly is largely looked at as a Top 15 player in the state of New Jersey after going 9-2 for Union City last season. His teammate, 4-star recruit Steven Gonzalez, committed to Penn State in late March.
The Orange has a lot going for them right now on the recruiting end despite a lack of 2015 commits thus far. The LSU announcement, along with the new uniforms, can only help recruit kids and a new indoor practice facility does not hurt either. Although the coaches would have loved to have the facility completed by the spring game, they will have to wait longer as the facility still has to be completed.
Kelly’s highlights can be found here.¬†
Hopefully, Kelly is a sign of the type of caliber of recruits the Orange will see over the next few months.
Posted by: Zephan Mayell
15 responses to “Spring Forward: Syracuse Shines for Recruit Daiquan Kelly After Spring Game”
This a player and built for the DEFENSE!! I love looking at tape, but one thing is always missing and that’s the opponent and what quality they are?? Union City usually always a great program in NJ. But who did they play!! Who he plays against shows a lot in his abilities. At least type in the name of the school the player is up against good or bad!!
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THE KIDS OF PSABUSEDU!! THE NCAA DID!!
I agree Terry..if Kelly is going to stay around 200 lbs he’d make a thumper of a safety. If he’s likely to put on 25 lbs over the next 2 years he’d make a good OLB.
its nice to see syracuse making some recruiting noise in new jersey. i can’t emphasize enough on the upgrades for the athletic programs. i really hope he comes here, he could be the next eskridge.i think the kids are really taking to our coaching staff here at syracuse as well. good stuff.
IPF – Sticking to May 1. I have yet to hear otherwise.
This guy really likes Syracuse right now I am very happy to say. I think one of his assistant coaches is a former SU player and the HC is a former Miami player. I think between that and the area/league they play in he can be regarded as having the know how of playing higher level competition. The offer list isn’t full of FCS schools. His teammate committed to PSU (we were on his list at one point too). We are really working some of the NJ kids and I think it’s great. Especially happy that we are working the parochials like St. Peter’s Prep. I think taking our piece of NJ back from RU is important. BC and PSU will always make dominance in the region tough. Pitt, who has also had success in NJ is making more noise in that area as well (including with Mr. Kelly here). BC has traditional ties to parochials so that is a challenge. All of these kids’ heads turn at a PSU offer too, but we are making big strides it seems.
Malone another stupid yawn on the facilities!! They should of started months ago.
Read on Syracuse.com about how decent Long was. I watched the spring game and to me of all the QB’s shown he was last in abilities. His arm was Paulus like(YEEEEKS)=weak. He loafed the passes to the WR’s. Hunt was HUNT still no down the field touch. But there weren’t that many down the field throw either!! The red shirt QB’s looked far better than Long and they should. They have been at SU longer and are older!! Better arms too!
I don’t buy into that parochial HS mean parochial college admittance!! A lot of these players are there to get their butts academic ready for passing tests and making it through college!! I’ll give ND the nod because their ND. But PSABUSEDU and PITT are not ND like. OK if your an OL player 4/5 stars then BC might have a better shot, because they are considered OL U nationally!! But NJ is one of the best parochial HS systems in the states. So we’ll see. Don’t forget NJ public schools either!!
I don’t forget Terry, I lived it. Don Bosco has always had a connection with BC. HC Greg Toal sent two of his own kids there to play LB. Kids grew up with my little bro. Toal coached at my HS. I know what I’m saying here. BC is very popular in North Jersey. I think we can keep them at bay, but they are known in North Jersey and tout their own NJ Giants connections as much as we do. Addazzio brings new energy to a known commodity.
Malone-I didn’t say not I said just because they play catholic ball in high school they’ll do in college too!! I’d be more concerned about PSABUSEDU, PITT and ND than BC!! Besides public schools send out some damn good product too in NJ. I still feel that most of the talent at the catholic schools every where are players lacking good academic habits. And structure too!! Private schools have always been that way and always will depend on those players for their stable. Union this year has some good talent!!
Agreed on all Terry, except maybe ND as they just cherry pick and aren’t constant players in the region. I also agree on IPF schedule. I was just giving an “update” since someone asked. That said, I don’t share your feelings that it will be ugly, but could it have been more? Yes. $9 mil – $10 mil. only gets you so much I guess.
Terry, why the new found love for NJ? Not that long ago you were coming after Russ and I and even Ron for pushing NJ saying we needed better talent than NJ had to offer.
Currently,Syracuse has approximately 15-20 offers out to recruits and is still offering scholarships to players that cover both the parochial schools in the North and public schools that cover the rest of NJ. There is no doubt in my mind bringing in Bobby Acosta to recruit the LI/NYC/NJ area will reap benifits for the program. I’m hoping the recruits start to realize that committing to Syracuse almost guarantee’s immediate playing time.
Shafer has knocked the door off of it’s hinges and is going gang busters in NJ. I think we get 5-6 really good players from there this year.
It was you and Russell that turned me onto the high school football programs in NJ last year. After watching them play I found/realized what all of the bragging was about. I would like to see Coach Shafer bring home 6’9″ 305 lb DT Kevin Feder out of Don Bosco Prep. That alone would be down right awesome man,just down right awesome.
Ron… do we have any shot with Feder?
Rivals shows him verbaled to Miami.
@orangeinva;
I really don’t know the answer to your question. He was part of a large group of recruits that Shafer had offered scholarships to. I think it was more of me hoping and praying that he come to Syracuse than anything else.
Watching him play last year as a junior,had me talking to myself asking questions as to why Syracuse wasn’t in NJ going after players like him. I just couldn’t believe a high school team could have a junior that big playing for them.
Last year when Jason Cabinda committed to Syracuse I thought he alone would open the doors to NJ recruits for Syracuse to walk through and get some of the big time players from the state,and after he swithed from us to Penn ST. the doors where slammed shut again. This year Shafer is putting on an all out assult for some of NJ’s best. I’m just hoping that we get some of them and Feder is one that I’m really hoping decides to come here to play.
MALONEY!! I never said throw away NJ!!! I said there’s an issue with the NYS/LI/NJ area and SUFB!! Some how the trust is gone with these areas and SUFB!! Acosta might work, but my BROS in NJ feel its a wait and see on him. Matter of factly they seem to think he just might be reach for SU!! There are others with more reach than him for “ALL” areas mentioned above. We’ll see. But as for Feder he’s history. Miami is really hooked on NJ talent lately and will be hard to beat. Let alone all the other majors out plucking the best apples from the NJ trees!! SUFB needs to get those high 3’s stars to campus and show the EAST COAST SUFB is here to stay. SU just hopes the apples fall into the ACOSTA basket and no where else!! We’ll see???????????
Malone I have never been a fan of Parochial/Catholic High School football or Basketball!! But they have become huge in the nations scene of HIGH SCHOOL football/basketball. And there’s reasons for that more good than bad. But one sore spot for me and many public high school fans is the recruiting aspect. Recruiting for high school football just is not acceptable in my mind. Public HS football was and is about neighborhood/towns against one another! Not players coming miles away let alone a state away to play for one high school FB team!! You can only bump up these schools so far in class. But its the movement now and you deal with it the best you can. Also more public schools are combining now so it will make them more interesting. But I tell you a truth that will never go away its better beating them any day of the week. Its that damn ND thing! They always give you that “better than thou” BS!! My old HS in thinking about joining a AA high school 2 miles down the road. There’s a sadness we feel from a school with a senior class of about around 40/50, but its the way now. So we move on!! Lost in the mist of memories!!
Have you seen the College Football playoff add on ESPN!! Its great!! Nothing like it for NCAA Basketball!! But the graphics shows a 8 team playoff!! Its only a 4 team playoff for now-right?? But it should be 8!! Tell me that with this add that COLLEGE FOOTBALL is not NUMBER ONE in all college sports!!