Syracuse football target George Rooks III, a 2021 four-star defensive tackle, has four finalists, and it doesn’t seem the Orange is one of them.
Chatter across the Internet is that Syracuse football may prove out of contention at this juncture for high-priority target George Rooks III, a 2021 four-star defensive tackle whose father suited up on the Hill in the late 1980s and early 1990s, capturing the Big East Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1991.
While earlier this year some recruiting experts had pegged the Orange as a possible favorite to land the ultra-talented 6-foot-4, 260-pound Rooks, that feels like an eternity ago, particularly amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Rooks recently discussed his four finalists and a timeframe for his decision to announce a collegiate destination in this 247Sports piece, although we’re unable to access it. However, on syracuse.rivals.com, there’s also an article with a headline that speaks to Rooks leaving Syracuse football off of his final list.
Additionally, several Orange fans on the forum SyracuseFan.com have noted that the ‘Cuse is not in Rooks’ top four.
His bio on the 247Sports Web site describes Michigan and Penn State as “warm” as it pertains to his recruitment, with the next two schools listed as Boston College and Pittsburgh out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Syracuse football doesn’t appear as a suitor any longer for 2021 four-star defensive tackle George Rooks III.
Certainly, until Rooks makes his ultimate pick known, I suppose that anything’s possible. But, in reality, all signs are indicating that he will not eventually don a Syracuse football uniform like his father previously did. It’s a bummer, although let’s wish Rooks well.
To date, as we’ve previously reported, Michigan may have emerged as the front-runner to secure his services, based on numerous recruiting analysts logging projections for Rooks to the Wolverines on 247sports.com and Rivals.com.
One of the top uncommitted players in the East Region within the 2021 cycle, Rooks is a senior who attends Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J.
Brian Dohn, a national analyst with 247Sports, had said at the end of August in a story that Rooks took “summer visits to Michigan, Penn State and Boston College to check out the campuses.” Rooks, by the way, is a candidate for the 2020 Sports Illustrated All-America squad.
Throughout the country in the 2021 class, the 247Sports Composite ranks him at No. 195 overall, No. 15 at defensive tackle and No. 3 in the state of New Jersey. Rivals.com arranges Rooks at No. 129 nationally, No. 10 at his position and No. 3 in New Jersey.