Things keep getting better and better for the Syracuse football program. They made an offer that hopefully one JUCO LB can’t refuse.
The Syracuse football squad have extended an offer to JUCO outside linebacker Bryant Pirtle Jr., a three star prospect according to 247sports.com.
Pirtle also holds offers from the likes of Arizona, Louisville, Utah, among others. The Arizona native attends Pima Community College in Kentucky which explains the high interest from Arizona and Louisville.
Pirtle’s 6-foot 1 205-pound frame fits the mold to take over for either Jonathan Thomas or Parris Bennett, as both will be graduating this season along with fellow senior Zaire Franklin at middle linebacker. Syracuse’s fourth linebacker this season has been Austin Valdez, a graduate transfer, he too will also be done after the season.
You never know with recruiting websites but according to Pirtle’s Hudl, the outside linebacker is 235-pounds, meaning he would have added 30 pounds since high school. Likely the last time 247 and other recruiting services had his weight was when he was still in high school.
Highlights:
Based on Pirtle’s highlights, he is primarily a defensive end pass rushing specialist who likes to get after the quarterback. However there are times when he lines up at more of a traditional, run
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stopping linebacker in the standing up position. It will be interesting to see where Syracuse coaches would use him if he were to commit.
As mentioned above, Syracuse will turn to a bunch of inexperienced linebackers next season with little to no in-game experience. Andrew Armstrong has seen some reps along with Kielan Whitner (a converted safety) at outside linebacker. Both Bennett and Franklin will leave Syracuse as two of the most decorated linebackers in Syracuse history and some of the lone bright spots on a defense that has struggled over the past few years.
In the class of 2018, Syracuse has only one linebacker committed, in Lakeland, Florida native Ja’Qurius Smith. With plenty of young defensive end talents on roster already, Syracuse should target Bryant Pirtle at the OLB position rather than DE.
His strengths appear to be his quickness, his Hudl lists his 40-yard dash time as 4.52 seconds, if that is accurate, that is plenty fast enough to play OLB in the ACC. His motor and pursuit of the football is elite, making him good in the run stopping game.
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The only question I would have about him would be whether or not he can cover slot receivers and running backs out of the backfield. Overall this should be a priority target and if Syracuse can pick up a 235-pound linebacker with 4.52 40-yard dash times that is a quality player.