Recruit | Syracuse's tradition enough to lure Mayes despite struggles

By: Michael Bonner

Posted: 10/25/07

Recruits that give Syracuse football a verbal commitment usually point to the coaching staff as to why they committed. Sometimes it's newly renovated facilities. And on some occasions, recruits even look toward their futures and are impressed by SU's academics.

Tradition, more recently, doesn't come up too often. It's uncommon to hear a commit bring up Jim Brown, Ernie Davis or even Donovan McNabb. But Grant Mayes is not a usual recruit.

Syracuse has gone almost 50 years without a national championship and 46 years with no Heisman Trophy winner. The Orange tied for a Big East title three years ago, but it's currently 7-24 in the Greg Robinson era. So why did cornerback Mayes commit to Syracuse?

Tradition.

"The opportunity is great," Mayes said. "I could've played in the ACC or Big Ten, but you look at the tradition, Jim Brown, Donovan McNabb, the Carrier Dome. The tradition is just great."

Mayes, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound cornerback, is rated as a two-star prospect out of Seton Hall (N.J.) Preparatory School. Syracuse faced competition from Tennessee, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Temple who all made offers to Mayes.

Scout.com may only rate him as a two-star prospect, but that isn't a unanimous feeling. Mark Alkire, the East Coast scouting analyst for Scout.com, said Mayes is a very underrated recruit and could very well be the second-best corner in New Jersey.

Tennessee and Cincinnati must agree with Alkire, as they have still been in contact with Mayes, trying to sway his decision.

Mayes listens to what the schools have to say, but he doesn't think anything will prevent him from wearing Orange next year.

"When I started doing my research on Syracuse, they just shot past the other schools (recruiting me)," Mayes said.

Mayes started that research on the Orange last year. Mayes said after Syracuse made him a formal offer, it was the first time he started doing his "homework."

"Just this year, me and my mom got on our game and started doing our research on schools and the whole nine yards," Mayes said. "It's important to me, it's important to her. Academically and traditionally, nothing beat Syracuse. It's just a great place to be and a great place to play."

Right now, when the Carrier Dome is usually almost empty by the fourth quarter, it might not be seen as such a great place to play. Mayes sees a bright future and plans to bring back the noise.

"I was up there for the West Virginia game," Mayes said. "I said to myself, 'If we can get this thing turned around, I know the Dome's going to be rocking.'"

Mayes has visited Syracuse twice already and plans to make his official visit sometime in December.

He gave his verbal promise to Syracuse because of its past accomplishments, but he hopes to create his own legacy on the Hill as well. Mayes brought up the game where No. 17 Kentucky beat then-No. 1 Louisiana State. He said he thought of Syracuse when Wildcats' quarterback Andre' Woodson said Kentucky used to be the doormat of the SEC, but that's no longer true.

Mayes said Syracuse might look like the doormat of the Big East now, but he believes it can get going in the right direction, back to the glory days of SU football.

Mayes has the talent to turn things around, especially on the defensive end, Seton Hall Prep head coach John Finnegan said. He and Alkire both call him a shutdown corner.

"(Syracuse is) getting a good one," Finnegan said. "(They are) getting someone who can step in and contribute."

A huge selling point with Mayes is his speed. Mayes runs track and was part of the state championship-winning 4x400 relay team last year. Mayes even said the team's time could've placed in a number of Division I meets. Mayes runs a sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash and was timed at 4.38 seconds.

In football, experts say speed kills. Next year, SU will have at least one player with potential game-breaking speed. Although Mayes hopes his speed not only brings in some victories but also helps Syracuse get back to being a power in the Big East.

"I want to be a part of the change and get things back on the right track again," Mayes said. "Hopefully we get this thing turned around and be a part of something great."

(BOLD)Syracuse eyes Carraway

As Syracuse tries to get a verbal commitment from a prospect rated higher than two-stars, one player on the wish list of candidates is Vaughn Carraway. Carraway is a two-way player for Muhlenberg (Pa.) High School. Schools are recruiting him as both a wide receiver and a cornerback.

"I'd say right now he's making a lot of plays offensively," Muhlenberg head coach John Yocum said. "But teams are not throwing a lot. It doesn't seem like teams are testing him a whole lot."

Carraway has 30 catches for more than 500 yards and 11 touchdowns through eight games this season, according to Scout.com. The wide receiver has already improved upon last year's stats when he hauled in 29 passes for 545 yards and nine touchdowns.

Carraway has made a visit to Syracuse already but did not make his official one yet. Michigan is the only school for which he has scheduled an official visit, and the Wolverines seem to be his top choice.

"He said it was nice, and he liked it," Yocum said. "He sees there's a difference in playing in the Big Ten and the Big East, but I don't think it will be a factor."

Syracuse's quest for the three-star recruit will not come easy, though. Besides Michigan, schools that have made offers include Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Boston College and Connecticut.