Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Sunday Sidebar: Youth Is Served
11/19/2017 2:15:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Over the last four years, Orange fans have become accustomed to hearing the public address announcer read some familiar names: Zaire Franklin, Ervin Philips, Steve Ishmael and Parris Bennett for example. All are four-year players who have become synonymous with Syracuse football. However as their careers draw to a close, new faces have emerged to help carry the torch for the future of the program. We got a peek at some of them in yesterday's loss at Louisville.
Syracuse's leading rusher and receiver against the Cardinals were both sophomores. Running back Moe Neal was responsible for the bulk of the rushing load for the first time because of an injury to starter Dontae Strickland. Neal averaged 5.2 yards a carry on 19 attempts and finished with a career-high 98 yards. He surely would have recorded his first 100-yard rushing game if the coaching staff hadn't decided to give freshman Markenzy Pierre first meaningful snaps of the season late in the game. Pierre rushed 10 times for 26 yards.
With Ishmael and Philips uncharacteristically quiet, second-year player Devin C. Butler stepped up to lead the receiving corps. Butler caught five passes for 63 yards, including a 35-yard reception.
Butler wasn't the only young receiver making contributions. Freshman speedster Nykeim Johnson snagged two passes, recorded an 11-yard rush, and ran back three kicks for 57 yards.Â
On the opposite side of the ball, sophomore safety Evan Foster was the Orange's second-leading tackler against Louisville, making eight stops. A starter all season at strong safety, Foster is third on the team with 54 tackles. He also has five passes defended, including an interception.
In addition to Foster, Syracuse's top two corners are true sophomore Scoop Bradshaw and redshirt sophomore Christopher Fredrick. Like Foster, Fredrick has five passes defended, including an interception. He also has 37 tackles. Bradshaw leads the team with six pass breakups. He has 20 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss which is the most stops behind the line of scrimmage for a Syracuse defensive back.
Up front, three of the main contributors along the defensive line are sophomores. Defensive lineman Kendall Coleman has battled injury this season, but has started 18 games over his first two seasons. Defensive end Alton Robinson arrived near the end of fall camp and leads the Orange with six sacks. Nose tackle McKinley Williams has logged 22 tackles this season in a rotation with redshirt junior Kayton Samuels.
That's not to mention sophomore Josh Black, who has missed most the year due to injury. A versatile 250-pounder who can play both tackle and end, Black notched eight tackles, including three for a loss, before getting hurt Sept. 23 at LSU.
Syracuse's collection of young talent is something head coach Dino Babers can point to as he continues to shape the future of the program.
"I think the biggest thing is where we are headed. I think that when people look at the program they can see that our (best) days are in front of us, they're not behind us," Babers said. "We're on the upswing. We're not on the downswing. A bowl, you made me say the "B" word, would obviously expedite things. But, I think people understand when they look at us that we're on the second year of a rebuild and we're heading in the right direction."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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Syracuse's leading rusher and receiver against the Cardinals were both sophomores. Running back Moe Neal was responsible for the bulk of the rushing load for the first time because of an injury to starter Dontae Strickland. Neal averaged 5.2 yards a carry on 19 attempts and finished with a career-high 98 yards. He surely would have recorded his first 100-yard rushing game if the coaching staff hadn't decided to give freshman Markenzy Pierre first meaningful snaps of the season late in the game. Pierre rushed 10 times for 26 yards.
With Ishmael and Philips uncharacteristically quiet, second-year player Devin C. Butler stepped up to lead the receiving corps. Butler caught five passes for 63 yards, including a 35-yard reception.
Butler wasn't the only young receiver making contributions. Freshman speedster Nykeim Johnson snagged two passes, recorded an 11-yard rush, and ran back three kicks for 57 yards.Â
On the opposite side of the ball, sophomore safety Evan Foster was the Orange's second-leading tackler against Louisville, making eight stops. A starter all season at strong safety, Foster is third on the team with 54 tackles. He also has five passes defended, including an interception.
In addition to Foster, Syracuse's top two corners are true sophomore Scoop Bradshaw and redshirt sophomore Christopher Fredrick. Like Foster, Fredrick has five passes defended, including an interception. He also has 37 tackles. Bradshaw leads the team with six pass breakups. He has 20 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss which is the most stops behind the line of scrimmage for a Syracuse defensive back.
Up front, three of the main contributors along the defensive line are sophomores. Defensive lineman Kendall Coleman has battled injury this season, but has started 18 games over his first two seasons. Defensive end Alton Robinson arrived near the end of fall camp and leads the Orange with six sacks. Nose tackle McKinley Williams has logged 22 tackles this season in a rotation with redshirt junior Kayton Samuels.
That's not to mention sophomore Josh Black, who has missed most the year due to injury. A versatile 250-pounder who can play both tackle and end, Black notched eight tackles, including three for a loss, before getting hurt Sept. 23 at LSU.
Syracuse's collection of young talent is something head coach Dino Babers can point to as he continues to shape the future of the program.
"I think the biggest thing is where we are headed. I think that when people look at the program they can see that our (best) days are in front of us, they're not behind us," Babers said. "We're on the upswing. We're not on the downswing. A bowl, you made me say the "B" word, would obviously expedite things. But, I think people understand when they look at us that we're on the second year of a rebuild and we're heading in the right direction."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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