Syracuse Football: Why I’m so excited about the Orange’s new WR commit

Syracuse football legend Art Monk! Marvin Harrison! David Tyree! Alec Lemon! Rob Moore! Qadry Ismail! Steve Ishmael! Taj Harris! Donovan Brown!

Listed above are some Syracuse football wide receivers who have graced the program and made us fans proud plus an extra name that you may not know but one day may know. Please note, this is NOT to put pressure on him to perform up to how those players performed because I NEVER put pressure or expectations on anyone except myself.

I only name them because I think it’s important to remember our legacy and hope that attracts recruits like Donovan Brown, which likely does help.

Last Friday, 2022 prospect Donovan Brown, a 6-foot-3 wide receiver from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md., said on Twitter that he was committing to Syracuse football after a recent visit and offer. If you want to learn more about other members of the Orange’s 2022 class, we did a recent column on that topic.

Mike McAllister, the publisher of SyracuseOnSI, wrote about this news on his site for SI.com, which you can read by clicking here, stating that they saw tape of him at a Penn State camp then visiting Cuse, and he worked out and the staff liked what they saw. Apparently, as Mike shared, Donovan was equally happy by what the staff said and the surroundings including pictures on the wall, and was ready to play here.

When I read this story, I was excited to have Donovan join the Orange because of the quotes you can read and the excitement he shared. My sharing it led to a friendly conversation with a friend about the lack of national ratings and offers, which many utilize to rate a prospect. And while I am all on board with Syracuse football signing a 5-star athlete with 30 offers including SEC schools, that is not the only factor I consider when someone commits.

So why did Donovan Brown’s commitment resonate with me? I LOVE his enthusiasm to be Orange and to succeed. I love his speed that Mike also discusses that I think could make him a deep threat option. I love that the staff liked what they saw, made him an offer and he wanted it without having to really think about it and put us on some long list (which is fine too…everyone has a different process and goal in life and that’s fine). And I love that Mike quoted him as being the happiest man in the world when he got the offer. Please read Mike’s article linked above to see more great quotes.

I like the guy who wants to be here. I like that player who you might see on social media or around town and they genuinely want to be a part of the team and the community. I love that “I want to run through walls to be here kind of spirit,” because it reminds me of my fandom.

Syracuse football has added a strong wide receiver to its 2022 recruiting cycle.

I like that positive energy coming into the program and around the fans. It kind of reminds me of when you watch the Ultimate Warrior running to the ring and shaking the ropes so you wanted to get up and do that yourself…when I see a guy with this much passion to come here and be the best he can for the program. I want to root for that guy and jump to my feet shouting “RUN!” loudly as he catches that pass and runs yard by yard for the touchdown. I want to run into this guy around town and give him a high five and a loud “GO ORANGE!” when I see him knowing he will appreciate it and reciprocate.

That guy who will be standing on the bench hyping up the crowd in a close game when he is not on the field or dancing with Otto or shaking hands with a young fan who might one day remember that moment and become one of us passionate fans because of his positive experience.

All that ratings stuff from recruiting Web sites is cool and often no matter the rankings, they can give you a little insight into the players and the program. However, ratings and offers are not the only determining factor to a player’s success in a program (my classic example is usually a reminder that Chandler Jones was like a 2-star recruit coming to SU and he seems to have done pretty well for himself).

Sometimes team chemistry is equally important as is having a player that the staff looks at and wants to offer right away because they think he is a good fit. Different teams have different schemes and are often looking for different things in players and it is obvious that the Syracuse staff liked what they saw in Donovan and therefore I like it.

As a fan, I tend to lean towards liking a recruit if the staff thinks they are the right fit so long as I believe in the staff and right now, I still have faith in Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers and his staff.

Welcome to Orange Nation and the Ohana, Donovan Brown. Come in here, have fun, take classes you enjoy and benefit you most, enjoy the local food like Tully’s and Varsity Pizza and more, and do the best you can. Keep watching tape and know that as a member of Ohana, we look forward to watching you play in the Dome and in an Orange jersey.

LET’S GO ORANGE!!!