It should not surprise you that Zyian Moultrie-Goddard was leading an Orange charge.
The 2023 linebacker from Iona (NY) Prep committed to Syracuse on June 22, and was the first in a flurry of Orange commits following official visits in June. Since Moultrie-Goddard pledged to Syracuse, defensive lineman Jalil Smith, running back Muwaffaq Parkman and wide receiver Bryce Cohoon have all committed.
“I’m not a big talker so I like to lead with my actions,” Moultrie-Goddard said in an interview with The Juice Online. “I think people follow you more when they see that you are doing all the right things.”
Leadership is one of the many qualities Moultrie-Goddard brings to the Orange. Iona Prep head football coach Joe Spagnolo predicted his star linebacker will be a captain at Syracuse one day.
Proud to announce I will be committing to Syracuse University 🍊🍊🍊 @CoachNJ_Monroe @Joespags12 @CoachBabersCuse pic.twitter.com/qL2F9Fk2dS
— Zyian Moultrie-Goddard 🥷🏾 (@GoddardZyian) June 22, 2022
It’s a sentiment that is shared by his teammates, as well.
“I can promise you SU is getting a beast and an even better teammate,” his teammate, 2024 kicker Sam Bisesi said. “I am very excited to see my teammate Zyian ball out at SU.”
Syracuse was early in identifying Moultrie-Goddard as an FBS talent. The Orange was the first to offer in January 2020, one of more than 15 scholarship offers he would eventually receive, including from Power 5 programs West Virginia and Tennessee.
» Related: 2023 RB Muwaffaq Parkman on committing to Syracuse: ‘I love this place’
That show of loyalty that was not lost on Moultrie-Goddard, who established a strong connection with lead recruiter Nick Monroe, defensive coordinator Tony White, and the rest of the SU staff.
“I have a great relationship with both coaches,” Moultrie-Goddard said. “They are both really genuine people and they expect a lot from me.”
The coaching staff envisions Moultrie-Goddard as a downhill linebacker in SU’s 3-3-5 system, which requires its second level players to be more physical with one less lineman on the field. One name that immediately comes to mind when watching Moultrie-Goddard is another disruptive LB already playing for SU.
“The coaching staff compares my game to (Marlowe) Wax,” Moultrie-Goddard said. “I’m a big hitting play making linebacker. I like to set the tone of the game and make sure the offense feels my presence. I also play sideline to sideline.”
It’s been a little more more than a week since he’s committed, and Moultrie-Goddard said the time has allowed him to get to know the Syracuse fan base more.
“It’s been great announcing my commitment. I can already feel the support of the Syracuse fans,” he said. “I picked Syracuse because I felt like it was the best overall fit for me. There was a strong family feel there, and I feel like I’ll fit really well in the defense.”
It’s a fit that should allow him to pursue his ultimate goals.
Said Moultrie-Goddard: “I envision myself developing into a complete linebacker that is ready for the NFL.”
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