SU offers NJ MLB early

One position at which the Syracuse football staff has been looking to upgrade personnel is linebacker, and the Orange is wasting no time in kick starting its pursuit of inside linebacker Carlo Calabrese of Verona, N.J.

Syracuse coach Greg Robinson recently dropped off an offer for the 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior at his school, joining Rutgers, Penn State, Notre Dame, Boston College and Virginia among the schools recruiting Calabrese.

“I didn’t know about it until they came to my school and said they were going to send the head coach over,” said Calabrese, who also holds an offer from Rutgers.

“It was good, he’s a nice guy,” Calabrese said, adding that he’s also impressed with SU assistant coach Derrick Jackson.

Calabrese has the makings of a big-time inside linebacker. In addition to his prototypical size, he runs a 4.7 40 and has already proven himself in terms of productivity. Last year he posted 104 tackles and four sacks while helping to lead his team the second round of the playoffs.

“I think I’ve got a nose for the ball. I know where the ball is going before the play starts,” he said. “And I’m tough.”

It may be tough to pull Calabrese out of the Garden State. He has an affinity for Rutgers and likes the idea of family and friends seeing him play, but added, “I don’t mind going away, either.” He also likes Notre Dame, in part because his school’s last major recruit, tight end Anthony Fasano, was a Golden Domer.

Still, he said he’s open to anything at this point and will be visiting Syracuse at some point, though he hasn’t set up a visit yet. He also said he appreciates the fact that SU was among the first to show its interest level in the form of an offer.

He also likes the idea of early playing time, though it’s not the end-all, be-all.

“I’d like it, but if they redshirt me, that’s fine,” he said.

Calabrese is currently averaging 10 points per game as a power forward and center on his high school basketball team, which is playoff-bound. He said he doesn’t know a great deal about Syracuse yet, but will looking into the Orange far more closely now that he’s holding an offer.

Syracusefan.com and Scout.com will keep you updated…

MLB Carlo Calabrese of Verona, N.J