Cuse TV: Wide Receivers Preview

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University football team is less than two weeks away from its 2016 season opener against Colgate on Friday, Sept. 2. Heading into its first game of the year, Cuse TV is breaking down the Orange position groups. In the latest preview, we look at the Syracuse wide receivers.

The Orange return more than 87 percent of their receiving yardage and receptions from the 2015 season. Junior Steve Ishmael, senior Brisly Estime and junior Ervin Philips, Syracuse's top three receivers from a year ago are expected to lead the unit.

"It's on us," Ishmael said. "The pressure is really on us. I feel like we are going to do a great job in terms of capitalizing on the situations. We have so many great, talented players. Everybody is good enough to contribute. I feel like everybody is going to step up to the plate and take charge."

In his second season on campus, Ishmael led the team in receptions (39), receiving yards (570) and touchdown catches (7). His seven touchdown receptions ranked fifth in the conference. Entering his junior year, he ranks seventh among active ACC players with a career average of 14.9 yards per catch.

A 2015 All-ACC Third Team honoree as a return specialist, Estime might be the team's most dynamic player in the open field. He led the team with an average of 17.2 yards per reception last season. His 89-yard touchdown catch against Wake Forest was the third-longest pass play in program history.

After serving as the squad's primary hybrid back in 2015, Philips has made the transition to inside receiver. Philips paced the Orange with eight total touchdowns (3 rushing, 5 receiving) and was second on the club with 48 points scored in 2015. He finished second on the team in receptions (29) and third in receiving yards (286).

"It's been pretty smooth," Philips said of the transition. "I have been in the slot before. It's not really anything new. It has gone well, so far."

Graduate transfer Amba Etta-Tawo, redshirt senior Alvin Cornelius and junior Jamal Custis are also expected to contribute. Etta-Tawo joined the Orange in July after spending four seasons at Maryland where he caught 61 balls for 938 yards and three touchdowns. Cornelius has six career starts to his credit, while Custis was used primarily in red-zone situations last year. All three have shown flashes of their playmaking ability during preseason camp.

True freshman Sean Riley has also shown well this fall. A running back who totaled more than 4,400 all-purpose yards in his last two years at Narbonne High School (Calif.), Riley is working at inside receiver. Riley is not afraid to catch the ball in traffic and has demonstrated excellent hands to go along with his blazing speed.

Check out both videos to hear more from Ishmael and Philips on the Orange wide receivers.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Alvin Cornelius

Jamal Custis

Brisly Estime

Amba Etta-Tawo

Steve Ishmael

Ervin Philips

Sean Riley

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