Overseas Orange

Syracuse football stars have been showing their talents across the Atlantic in NFL Europe the past two months. Past Orange Willie Ford, Will Hunter, Charles Burton, Sean O’Connor, and Mike Shafer have all participated in the NFL’s spring league.

Willie Ford started at cornerback for the Berlin Thunder, who finished the regular season 9-1. Ford totaled 34 tackles this season. He also contributed with three picks for the Thunder, as they led the league in team interceptions.

Ford and the Thunder will take on the Frankfurt Galaxy on June 12 in World Bowl XII (noon, FOX-TV). Ford is currently a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.

While at Syracuse, Ford amassed 110 tackles and three interceptions during his career. He led the Orange with 18 passes defended in addition to his 63 tackles and two interceptions his senior season as Syracuse finished with a 10-3 record.

Will Hunter was a big reason why the Cologne Centurions finished with the league’s best defense. The cornerback collected 30 tackles, third best for the Centurions, and had a second-best 11 passes defended. He also had one interception.

With the Orange, Hunter totaled 150 tackles (104 solo), three interceptions, six sacks, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. He was the recipient of the 2002 Coach Mac Award for intensity, focus, effort, and attitude his senior season. He set career highs that year with 78 tackles (62 solo), three fumble recoveries, and 10 passes defended.

The Cologne Centurions finished the season 4-6. Hunter has previously been a member of the New York Jets and is currently a free agent.

Charles Burton, Sean O’Conner and Mike Shafer were all member of the Rhein Fire. The Fire finished the season 3-7 after qualifying for the World Bowl the previous season.

Burton was one of the few holdovers for Rhein from the outstanding prior season. In 2003, he led the team with 66 tackles, four sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. He enjoyed another successful campaign with Rhein in 2004 as they finished with the leagues second best defense. He was third on the team with 38 tackles.

Burton has been a member of the Arizona Cardinals and is currently an NFL free agent.

Sean O’Connor graduated from Syracuse in 2002 after enjoying a successful career with the Orange as an offensive guard. He earned first team All-BIG EAST honors in 2001 and was also a BIG EAST Academic All-Star in 1999 and 2000.

O’Connor signed originally with Arizona in 2002, had a stint with the New York Giants, and was a member on the Washington Redskins practice squad in 2003. This was his second season in NFL Europe. He was a member of the Scottish Claymores the previous season.

Mike Shafer was 6-of-12 on field goals with the Fire this season, including a long of 48 yards. Shafer made a name for himself with the Orange as a punter. He holds the SU records for number of punts in a season (77) and career (249) and also career punt yardage for a season (3,282) and career (10,073). He was a member of the All-BIG EAST second team in 2001.

Shafer’s NFL rights are owned by the Buffalo Bills.

Syracuse University Athletics

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