2024 LB Nick Parisi looks to earn a Syracuse offer
2024 linebacker Nick Parisi remembers the day well.
On June 22, 2022, Parisi was participating in Wagner's football camp when he spotted then-Syracuse defensive coordinator Tony White approaching with a broad smile.
White had just received a commitment from New York's top-rated 2023 linebacker Zyian Moultrie-Goddard from Iona (NY) Prep. With that news in mind, White threw his arm around Parisi.
"We just landed the top 2023 linebacker in New York State," White said. "Now, let's see if we can land the top 2024 linebacker in New York State."
That 2024 linebacker White was referring to was, of course, Parisi.
"I was shocked he even knew my name," Parisi said.
That started a recruiting relationship between Parisi and Syracuse that has carried through to present day.
Parisi was part of a large contingent of recruits, including his teammate, 2024 wide receiver Josiah Brown, on Sept. 17 when the Orange defeated Purdue, 32-29. It was a wild game that wasn't determined until the waning moments, and improved Syracuse to 3-0 on the season.
He got to meet many of the other Syracuse coaches that day, including Dino Babers "on the 50-yard line," Parisi said. "How crazy is that?"
Though White has moved on to be the defensive coordinator at Nebraska, and Parisi's other recruiter, Khalil Ahmad left for Penn State, the reconstituted SU staff continues to recruit Parisi.
Parisi's primary recruiter is now newly minted Syracuse tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile.
"I was really happy, because Coach Nunz was recruiting me when he was at Rutgers," Parisi said. "I like him a lot and more importantly for me, Syracuse is staying with the 3-3-5 defense, which is my favorite style."
That makes sense, since that's the exact system Parisi is playing at Holy Trinity (NY). Playing outside linebacker, Parisi led them to a 9-1 record and a New York Catholic State Championship.
Parisi figures to be a middle linebacker at the next level. The initial feedback that he's gotten is that he needs to improve his speed.
"That's an accurate assessment," Parisi said. "Right now I'm at a 4.83-4.87. My goal is to go sub 4.7 this June."
To achieve that goal, he's hired Brown's speech coach.
"I'm known as a run stuffing linebacker," Parisi said. "But adding speed should make me much more versatile at the next level."
Speaking of that next level, Parisi has drawn interest from a wide swath of schools from high-majors to academic institutions.
"Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Army, Navy and Buffalo are recruiting me the hardest, along with a bunch of Patriot and Ivy League programs," he said. "It's such an amazing feeling to have so many elite programs recruiting me."
He expects the offers to start rolling in soon, including from Syracuse.
Said Parisi: "I plan on camping this June at Syracuse and earn an offer."
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