Syracuse football is going to need some help if they’re going to turn things around. Here are the top 5 impactful 2020 recruits to watch out for.
The Syracuse football team won’t be getting any five-star recruits or top-rated players in their incoming class but they recruited guys who have the potential to be dominant players in a couple of years.
This could be one of Dino Babers’ best classes when it’s all said and done with the versatility of the incoming players. The 2020 class will have an opportunity to see the field during their freshman season and possibly contribute which would be a huge step forward to their development and how this class as a whole turns out in the end.
With that being said here are the top 5 2020 recruits that could have the biggest impact.
Latarie Kinsler Jr: No. 45 DE (ESPN Rankings)
Latarie Kinsler is the top recruit for the Syracuse football team next season. Latarie is going to have a major role on the defense with the Orange’s top two edge rushers and arguably one of the top tandems in college football leaving for the National Football League in Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman.
Syracuse has done a tremendous job over the past decade in recruiting edge rushers and developing them into stars before they head towards the NFL. With the losses of Coleman and Robinson, the Orange are going to need some new edge rushers to match the production of their two studs although Syracuse will have their two defensive tackles returning in Joshua Black and McKinley Williams.
Latarie can play multiple positions on the defensive side of the ball which include defensive end, outside linebacker, and inside linebacker. Kinsler has the rare combination of speed and athleticism. If the Orange strength and conditioning program can beef him up, he could be a special talent.
Garth Barclay: No. 83 OT (ESPN Rankings)
Garth is the highest-rated offensive lineman that Syracuse will be bringing in next season. After an up and down season from the offensive line who seemed to struggle mightily in pass protection, the Orange could use a boost.
Syracuse will be losing just one starter on the offensive line (Evan Adams), which means opportunity is in the air. Although the Orange could look to shake things up because last year’s offensive line wasn’t exactly perfect.
Garth is coming in at 6-foot-7 250 lbs and will most likely add more strength when he arrives on campus. Tommy DeVito was sacked 44 times this season and Clayton Welch was also sacked 5 times this season which isn’t going to cut it for a Syracuse offense.
Syracuse will be looking for an offensive lineman who can run block as well as pass protect as their key to success starts with the running game. Garth is going to get better once he arrives on campus as he will get bigger, stronger, quicker, and more technically sound as a blocker working with college coaches and having access to the weight room whenever he needs.
Justin Barron: No. 84 ATH (ESPN Rankings)
Justin Barron is considered an athlete as he plays multiple positions on both sides of the ball which could become a key weapon for a college team.
Barron visited Syracuse twice and once with his mother and said “it felt like home” and when he came with his mom and saw her smiling and connecting with the coaching staff he knew this is where he wanted to be.
Justin doesn’t know where he will be playing at Syracuse next season as coaches from both sides of the ball have been fighting over Barron. Justin was recruited to Syracuse by Brian Ward who was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Syracuse before being let go during this season.
Barron has played tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, and defensive back in high school. Having a player like Justin is phenomenal because you can use their versatility as a weapon on either side of the ball but I could see Syracuse grooming him into an inside linebacker due to his size and his ability on defense.
Ben LaBrosse: S (JC)
The Syracuse football team will be bringing back a majority of their secondary next season with Christopher Fredrick, Evan Foster, Antwan Cordy, and Scoop Bradshaw graduating. Syracuse will have one of their starting safety spots open with the departure of Foster and Cordy.
Ben isn’t highly recruited by any major recruiting programs due to him playing at a junior college. There isn’t much on Ben since he wasn’t ranked by any of the major recruiting programs but he excelled at the Syracuse camp even with him sitting out of 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 drills due to an ankle injury.
Ben should have an opportunity to fight for the starting position next to Andre Cisco next season but even if he doesn’t win the starting position then he will have a big role on the defensive side of the ball due to the nickel packages that Syracuse runs and they also use three safeties in certain packages for more size and speed.
Steven Mahar: No. 27 TE-Y (ESPN Rankings)
Syracuse has been recruiting tight ends who are exceptional as blockers and in the passing game since Dino took over as head coach. Syracuse has two very good tight ends on their roster in Aaron Hackett and Luke Benson. Having tight ends who can run block. pass block, and can be threats in the passing game is huge for the Syracuse offense and the fast pace style that Dino wants to run.
Steven is from the Rochester area and the idea of playing for his hometown team and in the ACC and running in a wide-open offense were the selling points in his decision to come to Syracuse.
Steven is a unique tight end as he can be lined up as a receiver or as a tight end and he will be a mismatch for whoever is lined up across from him with his size, strength, athleticism, and speed. Syracuse worked hard after offering him late to make sure he felt right at home and got him to commit to Syracuse to be a major piece for years to come.