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Syracuse grabs commit from Miami linebacker

Despite playing for a nationally-ranked team last year, Miami (Fla.) Central linebacker Oliver Vigille was somewhat of a sleeper headed into spring ball. However, the lanky 6-foot-2, 205-pound defender impressed college coaches enough to earn offers from Syracuse, South Florida, Florida International and Central Florida.
The athletic Vigille decided against the in-state schools this week, instead making a pledge to the Orangemen. It was one that the coaches were happy to receive.
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"I made a commitment to Syracuse yesterday," Vigille said on Tuesday evening. "I called my recruiter, coach (Scott) Shafer and told him I'd like to give him a verbal commitment.
"They were really excited. Coach Shafer, he was really excited. They were really happy to have me on board."
Vigille says it was not a decision that came easy.
"I talked it over with my parents and coaches," he said. "I decided to get on the board early and commit. I wanted to go to Syracuse so I figured why not do it."
In fact, he has never visited the upstate New York campus. However, he plans to change that soon.
"I haven't been there yet," Vigille said of Syracuse. "I'm planning to take an official visit once the season starts. I've been to New York before with my parents and I really liked it there so I'm sure I'll really like Syracuse."
With the Orangemen recruiting Florida heavily, Vigille already knows one player on the team and is sure to have connections to many others once he arrives.
"I don't know anybody personally but I know of a guy up there," he said. "(Former Miami Edison cornerback) Phillip Thomas is up there and he's a good player. They recruit Florida a lot, so it should feel sort of like a home away from home."
Vigille says he is a solid commitment at this moment.
"Right now, it's a great institution for me," he said. "I'm not planning on visiting anywhere else right now, but I guess you never know. My decision right now is for sure, though."
Syracuse has offered several players at Central and Vigille is doing his best to recruit his teammates.
"Some of my teammates have offers from Syracuse too," he said. "I'm trying to get them to come along with me. I was just talking to our cornerback, Thomas Finnie, at practice today about joining me up there."
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