Syracuse football target George Rooks III among top uncommitted in East
By Neil Adler
Syracuse football target George Rooks III, a 2021 four-star defensive tackle, is one of the best uncommitted players in the East Region.
For some time now, Michigan has gotten a lot of buzz as a possible favorite to land 2021 four-star defensive tackle George Rooks III, however, Syracuse football absolutely remains in the running.
Rooks, a rising senior out of Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J., is an Orange legacy. According to an article by 247Sports national analyst Brian Dohn, Rooks is also among the top-10 prospects in the East Region who have yet to announce where they will suit up in about a year.
"Dohn writes that Rooks “is taking his time with a decision and he made summer visits to Michigan, Penn State and Boston College to check out the campuses. The Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter’s Prep standout is the No. 14 defensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite, and also has Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh on his list. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Rooks can also move to the edge and play strong side defensive end. There at two Crystal Ball picks in for Rooks to Michigan, but neither have high confidence levels. Rooks does not have a date set for his decision yet, but St. Peter’s Prep players usually announce prior to their senior seasons. His begins the first weekend of October.”"
Syracuse football high-priority 2021 target George Rooks III is a top-10 uncommitted player in the East Region.
For what it’s worth, four experts on Rivals.com also have logged predictions for Michigan as it pertains to Rooks, who recently got named as a candidate for the 2020 Sports Illustrated All-America squad.
In mid-May, Adam Friedman, an East Coast recruiting analyst for Rivals.com, published a piece where he ranked the contenders for Rooks. While this story is from a few months ago, Friedman did slot Syracuse football at No. 1, followed by Michigan at No. 2.
"Friedman wrote this about the ‘Cuse. “The Orange have a long history with Rooks and his family. His father played for Syracuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s and won Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1991. Dino Babers and his staff made Rooks a priority very early in the recruiting process and they have a program that fits all of his interests on and off the field.”"
All of the projections for Rooks to Michigan occurred in May or June, so it’s anybody’s guess at this juncture which way he is leaning. I’d expect that the Wolverines and the Orange are still significant contenders.
Across the country in the 2021 recruiting cycle, the 247Sports Composite rates Rooks at No. 196 overall, No. 14 at defensive tackle and No. 3 in the state of New Jersey. Rivals.com, meanwhile, places him at No. 129 nationally, No. 10 at his position and No. 3 in New Jersey.