McFarlane, Palmer, Norton sign with 'Cuse
Garden City's Ryan Norton sets to launch kickoff into end zone during the Nassau High School Conference II Football game where Garden City topped Carey 35 to 8. (Oct. 22, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
There's a distinctive orange hue to the Long Island football recruiting landscape.
On National Signing Day yesterday, two-way back Devante McFarlane (Half Hollow Hills West), two-tackle Omari Palmer (Longwood) and kicker Ryan Norton (Garden City) officially inked their national letters of intent to attend Syracuse University.
Wearing a blue cap with the distinctive orange 'S' that comfortably clashed with his color-coordinated maroon sweater vest-shirt-and-tie ensemble, McFarlane became the first player in Hills West history to earn a football scholarship to Syracuse. He was joined for the ceremony by school officials, his grandparents, Bernice and Franklin Daniels, his mother, Antoinette McFarlane and his aunt, Atyshia Cruz, mother of former Hills West quarterback JeVahn Cruz, now at Stony Brook.
"I loved the atmosphere at Syracuse and all the coaches were cool," said McFarlane, who said he has befriended the other two Long Island players during the recruiting process. "When I visited, they took us to a basketball game at the [Carrier] Dome and when I saw all those people, I thought, 'I like this place.' "
The feeling appears to be mutual. McFarlane, 6-1, 190, said he's been told that he has a chance to compete for a starting job next season. Question is, at what position? "The offensive and defensive coordinators are fighting over me," he said with a big smile.
That's because during his senior season, McFarlane played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive back and linebacker for the Colts. "They recruited me as an 'athlete' rather than for a specific position," he said. "My preference is offense -- running back or slot receiver. But I'm cool with whatever they decide."
Hills West coach Kyle Madden cited McFarlane's "great speed and big body that can easily add 15 pounds" as a reason for believing his protégé will wind up on offense. "I think he has a chance to be a big back, the kind that can get the tough yardage," Madden said.
It's not inconceivable that, in the next couple of years, this scenario could unfold frequently at the Carrier Dome: McFarlane bolts for a touchdown behind a block by Palmer, with Norton kicking the point after. It's all part of the blueprint for Orange coach Doug Marrone, who in three years on the job has now brought in eight Long Island players.
