David Makonzo Bonds With Coaches on Syracuse Visit

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Class of 2026 Canadian linebacker David Makonzo visited Syracuse over the weekend.
"Cuse was awesome," Makonzo said. "Can't wait to go back. We watched practice, then we went on a tour of the facilities and went to the Dome. It was very impressive. After we had a meeting about academics at Syracuse, coach Babers talked to us and answered any questions we had. Then I had the opportunity to meet with coach Rocky Long and learned more about his scheme and how he coaches his linebackers. I was very honored to have that opportunity. The day ended with a photoshoot. It was great. The best parts were meeting with coach Long, watching practice, learning more about Cuse and meeting the coaching staff and building a relationship with them."
The 6-2, 210 pounder enjoyed spending time with Dino Babers and Rocky Long.
"They were great," Makonzo said. "They're very friendly and genuine. I love what they're doing at Cuse. They're very passionate and really care about the players. Coach Babers told us about his experiences as a player and what type of guys he wants in his program athletically and character wise. He also told us that he loves Canadian players, which is great. Coach Long has so much knowledge and experience and is very genuine. It was awesome listening to him. It was definitely a great learning experience."
Being able to watch practice in order to get a feel for how the coaches coach was another highlight.
"I loved the practice," Makonzo said. "It was very competitive and physical. I love how the linebackers are used. Coach Long does a great job of giving responsibilities to the linebackers and making it fun for them."
Overall, Makonzo left Syracuse with a stronger impression of the Orange.
"It definitely increased my interest in Syracuse," Makonzo said. "It was awesome to learn more about the program, the school and meeting the coaches."
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Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.
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