Countdown to Kickoff: Orange Wide Receivers

SYRACUSE, NY – The Orange football program has built a reputation by producing top-flight running backs – Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, Joe Morris, James Mungro and Walter Reyes – but don’t tell the wide receivers that. The receiving corps that has worn the orange includes Art Monk, Rob Moore, Marvin Harrison, Qadry Ismail and Kevin Johnson, to name a few. In eight days, wide receivers Jared Jones, Andre Fontenette and Steve Gregory and the rest of the 2004 SU squad take the field for the first time in 2004 at Purdue. The September 5^th season-opener begins at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ABC.

Monk, a 1979 All-American, owns the Syracuse record for most receptions in a game, 14 receptions for 188 yards, which he set against Navy in 1977. After leaving SU, Monk had a very successful career in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1985 to 1987 and his 940 career receptions rank fifth all-time in the NFL.

Moore was the next great receiver in SU history. Moore earned All-America honors in 1989 thanks to his 1,064 receiving yards and his nine touchdown catches, which rank second and third on SU’s single season lists. His 2,122 career receiving yards places him third all-time for a Syracuse receiver. Moore enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL with the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals.

Harrison is perhaps the best wide receiver ever to put on a Syracuse jersey. In 1995, he had 1,131 receiving yards, a SU record, en route to All-America laurels. He holds the career receiving yards record with 2,728 yards. Harrison is in the midst of a great NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. He was voted to the All-Rookie Team in 1996 and has since played in six Pro Bowls. In 2002, Harrison broke the NFL record for most receptions in a season with 143.

Johnson continued the run of great SU wide receivers. Known also for his excellence as a kickoff returner, Johnson caught an SU record 60 passes in 1998, nine of them for touchdowns. Johnson is in his sixth year in the NFL. He joined the Baltimore Ravens for the 2004 season after five years in Cleveland and part of the 2003 season in Jacksonville.

Syracuse begins the season on Sunday, September 5 at Purdue. The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ABC. SU then plays at Buffalo on September 11 at 6:00 p.m. The Orange kicks off the home portion of the schedule on Saturday, September 18 against Cincinnati at 12:00 p.m. SU will also host Rutgers (Oct. 2 at 12:00 p.m.), Florida State (Oct. 9), Connecticut (Oct. 30) and Pittsburgh (Nov. 6).

For ticket information and prices, call the Carrier Dome box office at 1-888-DOMETIX. Tickets are available at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), by telephone (888-DOMETIX) or on the Internet www.dometix.com

Syracuse University Athletics

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