SPORTS: It's official; Cater signs with Syracuse
H.S. football star picks Orange over Rutgers
4 comments below
Malcolm Cater was joined by his younger siblings, Angelo and Autumn, as well as his mother, Lisa, during yesterday morning's ceremony in which he signed on with Syracuse University.
Malcolm Cater has made his final decision. He's going to Syracuse University.
The Riverhead High School senior running back/linebacker signed a national letter of intent yesterday morning, national signing day, linking him with the Orange. Cater had verbally committed to Syracuse last year, but reports had occasionally popped up, stating that he had reconsidered and would go to Rutgers University, which was also interested in his services.
So, why Syracuse?
"Syracuse is just a big family, man," said Cater, who wore a blue and orange Syracuse cap and jacket. "They care so much."
Cater said it was "a little overwhelming" talking to Syracuse Coach Doug Marone for the first time during his first official visit to Syracuse, but something felt right. "I just felt at home when I was there," he said.
Cater said he also spoke with Syracuse senior tight end Mike Owen, a Riverhead High School graduate, about the university. Last year Syracuse went 4-8, 1-6 in the Big East.
At the same time, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Cater said choosing between Syracuse and Rutgers was difficult. "It was really stressful at one time," he said. "The recruiting process is a business, and I didn't understand that at first. I was just thinking that both schools like me a lot and I didn't want to say no to none of them, so it was really hard."
"Rutgers is a good school," he added. "I can't say nothing bad about it. Rutgers is a good school. It's a big school, but I had to take my options, and I had to go to Syracuse."
Riverhead Coach Leif Shay supported Cater's choice. "I think Syracuse offered for him, academically, the support that he needed," Shay said. "At the end of the day, I think it was a family decision. I think he made the right decision."
What type of a player is Syracuse getting?
"They're getting the Caterizer," Shay said. "They're going to get a guy who's going to be a fierce hitter. Talking to the coaches, I think he'll be on the field in a year or two playing."
The hard-hitting Cater had a tremendous senior season for the Blue Waves, making 103 tackles (17 for a loss) and recording 11 sacks in nine games. He shared the Hansen Award, which goes to the most outstanding player in Suffolk County, with his cousin, Half Hollow Hills West Colts quarterback/free safety JeVahn Cruz. The Collotta Award, which is given to the county's most outstanding linebacker, was also presented to Cater.
Both awards were sitting on a table in the Riverhead High School library as Cater, who was surrounded by family members, put pen to paper as photographers snapped away. Joining him in the ceremony were his mother, Lisa; brother, Angelo; sister, Autumn; stepfather, Rick; and his uncle, Solomon.
"It's always a happy day when our guys go off to the next level," Shay said. "It validates what we do here, so we're real excited."
Cater sounded eager to bring his game to the Carrier Dome.
"It's a very exciting day," he said. "I'm just so happy right now. I can't wait to get to Syracuse and start hitting."
bliepa@timesreview.com
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4 comments found
Malcolm Cater to SU : 2/5/2010
Malcolm sounds like a real winner in all respects. SU is very lucky to have Malcolm joining our team and hopefully he will contribute to some very successful years in his next four years at SU.
Welcome to the SU Fam : 2/4/2010
Congrat's Malcom welcome to the Syracuse family call up some future team mates at RB&LB and ask them about their typical workouts if you want to be truly ready to hit when you show up on campus. Can't wait to see you in ORANGE! Good Luck and great choice, a degree from SU can take you places in life well beyond football.
congrats : 2/4/2010
hard work pays off, congrats, and do your thing at 'cuse
football : 2/4/2010
My little brother and sister are the bested. I love them so much they are unbelievable children, and this is why i work so hard on and off the feild for my family i love them so much.
