They’re both 5 feet, 9 inches, both run a 4.3 40-yard dash and both hail from Tallahassee, Fla. They’re strong, competitive and have great hands. And they’re headed to Syracuse.

But the similarities end there for Godby High School seniors Landel Bembo and Marcus Clayton. Clayton returns kicks, Bembo returns punts. Clayton intercepts the ball, Bembo receives it. Bembo fell in love with Syracuse, Clayton hasn’t even visited.

Though they traveled two different paths to Syracuse, both are among the 23 players expected to sign national letters of intent today. The Orangemen will not sign any players ranked in recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s top 100.

Bembo visited SU Dec. 6, felt great about the school and committed the following week.

But for Clayton, playing college football anywhere was uncertain until Sunday.

‘Marcus basically screwed up the recruiting procedure,’ Godby head football coach Shelton Crews said. ‘He’s forever indebted to Syracuse University because it really bailed him out.’

Crews said Clayton’s problems began when he left his father and Crews out of the process. After Clayton’s first two visits, to Iowa and North Carolina, he canceled his plans to see Syracuse, Clemson and Tennessee. His decision came down to the Hawkeyes or Tar Heels.

But after UNC coaches saw Clayton’s reserved demeanor, they reneged their offer. Iowa pressured Clayton to sign, and when Clayton hesitated, the Hawkeyes signed another defensive back. Clemson filled their scholarships. Tennessee lost sight of Clayton after his visit was canceled because of a Knoxville snowstorm.

The Orangemen were his only remaining option.

“Marcus was left in the cold,” Crews said. “Luckily for him, Syracuse was still interested, and he was tickled to death.”

Bembo and Clayton first met when Clayton moved in with his father in North Florida the summer before their junior years. The two battled each other in practice — receiver versus cornerback. Their relationship started as one of mutual respect, but not close friendship. Practices resembled heavyweight fights more than organized scrimmages.

“They’re friends in so far as they respect each others ability,” Crews said. “I mean, you really have to see them working against each other to understand how competitive they truly are. You don’t know how many times I had to stop practice in the middle to make them run a 40 (yard dash) because the two kids are fighting.”

“Practice was always 50-50,” assistant coach Todd Lanter said. “They’d always be going at it, but at the end of the day, they’d be even. Neither could one-up the other.”

Bembo’s junior year — nine touchdowns, 44 receptions and 992 yards — attracted interest from Indiana, Bowling Green and Syracuse, among others. But a combination of his poor grades and small frame caused schools to back off one-by-one. Syracuse’s unwavering interest prompted Bembo to sign in mid-December, and Crews said Bembo’s academic problems have been eradicated.

“Landel is just a very talented, hard-working, great kid,” said Lanter. “He made bigger strides in weights than I’ve ever seen.”

Lanter said Bembo improved his bench press from 195 to 280 pounds in the past year.

Clayton, meanwhile, was groomed for the cornerback position since age 2. His father, former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Willie Evers, tutored Clayton on positioning, footwork and training through high school. Clayton totaled 50 tackles and seven interceptions his junior year and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

“Marcus is the best athlete I’ve ever coached,” Lanter said. “He’s such a fierce, strong competitor, and he plays his butt off every down.”

The sibling-like rivalry continues as the two opposites head north, bringing their passion to a program in need of revival.

“They’re going to make a great contribution to the program,” Crews said. “Syracuse got two very special kids.”

Published on February 4, 2003 at 12:00 pm