Greg Robinson knows what he wants from a recruiting class. Last year, the SU head coach tried to hone in on the offensive line and the offensive skill positions to make up for the Orange’s poor offensive performance in 2005.

This year’s 26-man recruiting class targets different areas, specifically the defensive line and at linebacker. Twelve players fit that category. Robinson also targeted skill positions that can play either offense or defense, depending on the Orange’s needs.

‘We targeted that position early just by numbers,’ Robinson said. ‘It was time. It wasn’t so much a concern. It was just what the numbers would be a year from now. We wanted to make sure we had those positions secured.’

Although six of Robinson’s recruits come from New Jersey, the head coach was able to attract four from Florida – SU’s first time going that far south since 2004 – despite public comments during the season that the Sunshine State wasn’t a huge necessity.

Though Robinson felt his recruiting efforts met his needs for next season, he expressed disappointment in losing out on Mark Spinney and Rob Gronkowski. Spinney, a lineman from Bishop Guertin in Nashua, N.H., withdrew his verbal commitment to SU and opted for Boston College. Gronkowski, a tight end at Woodland Hills in Pittsburgh, signed with Arizona.

Both players’ fathers played for Syracuse.

‘I thought we recruited them very hard and I felt like we were in a good position,’ Robinson said. ‘They decided not to come. That was disappointing to me. But I guarantee we’ll go right back out next year. I already identified a prospect whose father played at Syracuse and we’re going to battle again. If I had a disappointment, that’s what it was.

‘It brings in more of the Syracuse family. That’s what I liked about it.’

With starting linebackers Kelvin Smith, Luke Cain and Jerry Mackey gone, Robinson brought in four linebackers: Chad Battles, Mike Mele, Jermaine Pierce and Romale Tucker. ESPN.com ranks Battles, from Newport News, Va., as the 49th-best linebacker in the nation while Scout.com ranks Pierce and Tucker the 13th and 27th-best middle and strongside linebacker, respectively. Robinson also sees Lamar Middleton, a tight end from Newark, N.J., able to play linebacker.

Robinson estimated that among the 26 players, 10-12 can play multiple positions. Chaz Cervino, Randy McKinnon, Da’Mon Merkerson, Middleton, Darnell Pratt and Max Suter are listed at playing multiple positions. Suter, Robinson said, could play at wide receiver, running back, safety or cornerback.

The SU head coach figures he’ll have a better idea what positions they’ll play after the current roster sorts itself during spring practice. When the freshmen come in the summer, Robinson will be able to fill in the needs.

‘I like when a young man comes in to have a defined role of where he is going to start,’ Robinson said. ‘After spring ball, we will able to assess. Then we’ll be a little more specific about where some players will be.’

Robinson wanted to address part of that effort by recruiting players who attended a junior community college or attended prep school. Ryan Howard, a cornerback, attended Long Beach Community College in Carson, Calif., where he earned all-state honors. Pierce, Pratt and wide receiver Andrey Baskin attended Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y. Baskin attended Milford after failing to meet Syracuse’s academic requirements last year. ESPN ranked him as the 13th best wide receiver in 2006 and was also recruited by North Carolina and Tennessee.

Robinson hinted that academics may still be an issue with Baskin.

Another position Robinson made a priority was tight end. The Orange signed Middleton, Pratt and Nick Provo, although it lost on Gronkowski and Brooklyn native Lansford Watson. Robinson featured the tight end prevalently in last year’s offense when starter Tom Ferron caught 30 passes for 351 yards.

‘It kind of hit me like I’m signing my life away,’ Provo said. ‘Signing my life away to Syracuse.’

Quarterbacks Cody Catalina and David Legree will compete with rising sophomore Andrew Robinson behind center. Greg Robinson compliments both recruits’ accuracy and had a chance to see Catalina during 7-on-7 drills at Syracuse last summer.

This was Robinson’s second full season to recruit after taking over in January 2005. He brought four more players than 2006 and touched on more states. Despite a 5-18 record as head coach, Robinson senses positive reaction from potential recruits.

‘I liked the reception,’ Robinson said. ‘I sense people seeing things coming in the right direction. Have we turned the corner? No. We haven’t done the kind of winning we need to do. That’s turning the corner. But I like the process and I like where we’re heading.’

Staff writer Christopher James contributed to this story.

Published on February 6, 2007 at 12:00 pm