Syracuse football gets commitment from speedster in the Bronx.
Syracuse, NY -- Jeremiah Kobena of Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx said today that he's made a verbal commitment to play football for Syracuse University in 2010. Kobena (6-foot, 185 pounds), who was recruited as an athlete by the Orange, finished sixth in the New York State 100 meter finals last month at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. He also won the city championship in the event and has run as fast as 10.8 seconds
Kobena, who goes by the nickname "Juice," said he picked the Orange over offers from Rutgers and Pittsburgh.
"I felt that the whole rebuilding process, the last four years, haven't been too (successful)," Kobena said. "Coach (Doug) Marrone is here, is ready to turn it around and bring it back to where it once was. That really played a big part of my decision. I'm all for it."
Kobena played wide receiver and tailback at Cardinal Hayes. He said Syracuse coaches see him playing the same role that C.J. Spiller plays at Clemson. Orange offensive coordinator Rob Spence came to Syracuse from Clemson where he coached Spiller, who rushed for 629 yards and seven touchdowns last season along with catching 34 passes for 436 yards and three touchdowns.
Kobena, who lives in Manhattan, said he had about 1,000 all-purpose yards last season and seven touchdowns. He said it would've been nice to play for a Southern power but said he was thrilled by the facilities at Syracuse including the Carrier Dome.
Kobena said he visited the Syracuse campus around the state track meet. Kobena said he ran "a terrible race" at C-NS, yet still finished sixth. He said one coach told him he's run as fast as 10.7 seconds in the sectionals. He won the city championship in May with a time of 10.97 seconds.
"When people say I'm a track, guy, what do you guys mean?" Kobena said. "I'm a track guy, so am I only committed to track and not football? I like track and football equally."
Kobena said he had an up and down track season because of a virus that ran from the end of indoor season to the start of outdoor season. This summer, he's working on some math courses in order to get himself ready to play and enroll at Syracuse next year.
"I really didn't want to go to a school already top five, prestigious wise, like for say, LSU. It's already prestigious. It's already up there," Kobena said. "I want to go up there where I can make a big impact. Compared to us (in New York), those kids down south are already developed. A lot of city kids don't get a lot of love from down south. Syracuse has been struggling the last four years. I feel lilke I can contribute there with my ability. I can contribute to the team a lot."
