2008 Woodie Awards
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After starting his year at cornerback, Da'Mon Merkerson is back at receiver where he belongs
By Danny Fersh
Posted: 11/13/08, 11:37 PM EST Section: Sports
During summer workouts, Da'Mon Merkerson lined up to run his "quick time." The drill, which measures a player's speed in his initial 5-yard burst from the line of scrimmage, was something he and fellow Syracuse sophomore wide receiver Donte Davis did not enjoy.
"Me and Donte, we were talking about it, like 'We hate the quick time,'" Merkerson said. "It doesn't measure real speed."
Five yards and .99 seconds later, Merkerson had set a new SU record.
"That's when everybody knew, like 'Oh man, this dude's really fast,'" Davis said. "He's turning heads out here."
After bouncing back and forth between positions - he started the season at cornerback after playing wideout his freshman season - it appears Merkerson has finally found his niche as a wide receiver.
He had his breakout game two weeks ago against Louisville when he caught three passes for 68 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown. On a team without a clear-cut No. 1 receiver, Merkerson has cracked the receiver rotation and is vying for more playing time.
"He has tools that the other guys don't," wide receivers coach Chris White said. "He's very explosive getting in and out of cuts."
Merkerson's shuffling from position to position put his mental abilities to the test. He spent last season as a wideout, catching eight passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. But in the spring, the sophomore was moved to cornerback. He challenged for a starting spot in the summer, and played regularly in the early part of Syracuse's season. Finally, he was moved back to receiver against West Virginia on Oct. 11 to boost a struggling unit.
Like Merkerson, senior safety Bruce Williams has switched between wide receiver and the defensive secondary several times. He started the year at receiver before going back to safety.
"When I got switched to receiver, the first thing I said was 'Why don't Da'Mon go back first?'" Williams said. "It worked out for Da'Mon and me that we're on the sides of the ball where we feel we belong."
"Me and Donte, we were talking about it, like 'We hate the quick time,'" Merkerson said. "It doesn't measure real speed."
Five yards and .99 seconds later, Merkerson had set a new SU record.
"That's when everybody knew, like 'Oh man, this dude's really fast,'" Davis said. "He's turning heads out here."
After bouncing back and forth between positions - he started the season at cornerback after playing wideout his freshman season - it appears Merkerson has finally found his niche as a wide receiver.
He had his breakout game two weeks ago against Louisville when he caught three passes for 68 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown. On a team without a clear-cut No. 1 receiver, Merkerson has cracked the receiver rotation and is vying for more playing time.
"He has tools that the other guys don't," wide receivers coach Chris White said. "He's very explosive getting in and out of cuts."
Merkerson's shuffling from position to position put his mental abilities to the test. He spent last season as a wideout, catching eight passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. But in the spring, the sophomore was moved to cornerback. He challenged for a starting spot in the summer, and played regularly in the early part of Syracuse's season. Finally, he was moved back to receiver against West Virginia on Oct. 11 to boost a struggling unit.
Like Merkerson, senior safety Bruce Williams has switched between wide receiver and the defensive secondary several times. He started the year at receiver before going back to safety.
"When I got switched to receiver, the first thing I said was 'Why don't Da'Mon go back first?'" Williams said. "It worked out for Da'Mon and me that we're on the sides of the ball where we feel we belong."
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