There was never any doubt where Naesean Howard wanted to play in college. A Camillus, N.Y., native, Howard grew up watching Syracuse and rooting for the Orange.

Even in a period of turmoil, with coaching changes and a move to a new conference, Howard never wavered.

“He wanted to play for Syracuse,” said Joe Corley, Howard’s head coach at West Genesee High School.

Howard committed to play for SU on March 9. A three-star recruit and the No. 68 running back in his class, according to Scout.com, Howard chose the Orange over an offer from Buffalo. He became the first member of SU’s Class of 2014.

Howard rushed for 1,486 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior for West Genesee while carrying the ball more than 21 times per game. At 5 feet, 11 inches and 190 pounds, the workhorse back has the ability to break big runs, like a 74-yarder he broke against Clarence High School. But he also has the ability to grind out tough yards.

“He’s listed as 5-11, 185. He plays a little bit bigger than that and I think he can play physical, he can run physical and he can do it between the tackles,” Scout.com recruiting analyst Brian Dohn said.

But runs like the one against Clarence are what separate him. His explosiveness, Corley said, is his greatest asset. He returned one kick as a junior for the Wildcats and brought it back 75 yards for a touchdown.

“He hits the hole so hard and so explosive,” Corley said. “When he accelerates, he accelerates very smooth.”

It is possible, though, that Howard may not even play running back at Syracuse. He was a stalwart cornerback for West Genesee and opponents rarely ran or threw his way, Corley said.

SU head coach Scott Shafer recruited Howard even when Doug Marrone was at the helm, which made the coaching change a non-factor. It also means a move to safety could be in the works.

“I think that’s a direction he wants to go and I think that’s a direction they might be leaning towards as well,” Corley said.

However, he comes to SU with a bit of a question mark attached. Howard was arrested on charges of first-degree robbery in 2010. Authorities said he and one other person held up a man outside of a Walmart with a pellet gun.

But he’s moved on from the incident, and his coach said it’s tough to find a better kid.

“I can say this with confidence that he has, for me, as a kid, has been pretty darn close to perfect. I’ve never had a problem with him discipline-wise, he’s never disrespectful, he’s always an absolute gentleman, he’s polite, and as a kid with his peers, you couldn’t ask for a better teammate.

“He’s just that kid that everyone wants to be around.”

SU picks up 2013 JUCO linebacker

Malcolm Howard, a junior college linebacker from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, committed to Syracuse on Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Howard will join the Orange at the beginning of next season as a member of SU’s Class of 2013.

He ranked ninth with the Bulldogs in tackles last season, but has run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

Howard is an unranked outside linebacker, according to Scout.com, but he could move inside when he arrives at Syracuse.

“He’s a good player,” Dohn, of Scout.com, said. “He’s not a kid who’s going to jump off because of crazy athleticism, but his straight-ahead speed is good, he needs to work a little bit on sideline-to-sideline stuff.”

Long adds to 2014 quarterback fray

Terrel Hunt, John Kinder, Charley Loeb, Mitch Kimble and Austin Wilson will be embroiled in what figures to be an extensive quarterback competition this summer. If Loeb wins the competition this season, A.J. Long could become heavily involved in the summer of 2014, as the Orange will be looking for a new starting quarterback.

Long, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback from Lebanon, Tenn., chose Syracuse over Arizona, Temple, UCLA, Ohio and multiple Football Championship Subdivision schools.

Though unranked by Scout.com and Rivals.com, Long threw for 2,476 yards, 37 touchdowns and just one interception as a junior for Friendship Christian School. He also ran for 669 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the Commanders to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Class 2A championship.

“It’s more about potential and his ceiling,” Dohn said. “He still needs to develop his arm and develop his accuracy. … It’s more about the projection of where he can be.”