Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
#CuseCamp17 Position Preview: Linebackers
8/16/2017 4:15:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The saying goes that "linebackers run the defense and the defense runs the team." There's no doubt the first part is true for the Orange, as the squad returns three senior starters. Weak-side linebacker Parris Bennett and middle linebacker Zaire Franklin are entering their third seasons with the first unit, while strong-side 'backer Jonathan Thomas heads into his second.
The three have developed a tight bond during their time at Syracuse, which is evident both on and off the field.Â
"Zaire is my guy. Everyone at 'Cuse knows that," Bennett said. "It's great to have one of the best friends in my life on the field with me. And JT, he's been my roommate since I got here. We've always been close. We came in together. The familiarity and comfortability with one another makes it easier to communicate and get each other right."
Franklin and Bennett are candidates for All-ACC honors after they each finished with more than 100 tackles in 2016. Bennett led the way with 110 stops and Franklin carded 101. They are one of 10 returning linebacking duos in the FBS to have achieved that feat.
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A gifted athlete, Thomas had his most productive season a year ago. He finished with 52 tackles, including four a loss, and forced two fumbles.
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Junior Ryan Guthrie joined the Orange in January and spent the spring learning the nuances of the system. He'll be the primary reserve on the weak side following a stellar two-year stint at Ellsworth Community College (Iowa) in which he earned NJCAA First Team All-America honors.
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Should Franklin need a breather, sophomore Andrew Armstrong will likely step in. Armstrong tallied 16 tackles as a freshman. He was a core special teams contributor and saw additional reps on defense as last season went along.Â
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New to the unit is converted safety Kielan Whitner, who is charted behind Thomas on the strong side. Whitner's skills, honed from years in the defensive backfield, make him ideally suited for the position, which is relied upon heavily in pass coverage. Also, new to the Orange, but not defensive coordinator Brian Ward's scheme is graduate transfer Austin Valdez. Valdez played a season under Ward at Bowling Green and had the most productive year of his career, making 144 tackles on his way to All-MAC First Team honors.
Redshirt sophomores Troy Henderson and Shyheim Cullen received their first taste of college football last season and are candidates to contribute on special teams. Adam Dulka is in his second year with the program after redshirting the 2016 season.
Rounding out the group are freshmen Nadarius Fagan, Tyrell Richards and Kadeem Trotter. A two-time All-Dade County (Fla.) selection, Fagan enrolled at SU in January and participated in spring practice. Richards and Trotter arrived during the summer. Richards hails from Brampton, Ontario, Canada where he was the No. 4 overall Canadian prospect in the Class of 2017, according to ESPN. Trotter played safety and linebacker at Ohio's McKinley High School, earning PrepStar All-Midwest plaudits.
Syracuse kicks off the 2017 campaign against Central Connecticut State on Friday, Sept. 1 in the Carrier Dome. Season tickets, partial plans and group tickets are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125.
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Single-game tickets for all home games are also on sale. Tickets start at $25 for non-conference games against Central Connecticut State, Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan, $30 for ACC matchups with Wake Forest and Boston College, $35 for the Oct. 7 Pittsburgh game on Orange Central Weekend, and $45 for the Clemson game on Oct. 13.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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The three have developed a tight bond during their time at Syracuse, which is evident both on and off the field.Â
"Zaire is my guy. Everyone at 'Cuse knows that," Bennett said. "It's great to have one of the best friends in my life on the field with me. And JT, he's been my roommate since I got here. We've always been close. We came in together. The familiarity and comfortability with one another makes it easier to communicate and get each other right."
Franklin and Bennett are candidates for All-ACC honors after they each finished with more than 100 tackles in 2016. Bennett led the way with 110 stops and Franklin carded 101. They are one of 10 returning linebacking duos in the FBS to have achieved that feat.
  Â
A gifted athlete, Thomas had his most productive season a year ago. He finished with 52 tackles, including four a loss, and forced two fumbles.
  Â
Junior Ryan Guthrie joined the Orange in January and spent the spring learning the nuances of the system. He'll be the primary reserve on the weak side following a stellar two-year stint at Ellsworth Community College (Iowa) in which he earned NJCAA First Team All-America honors.
  Â
Should Franklin need a breather, sophomore Andrew Armstrong will likely step in. Armstrong tallied 16 tackles as a freshman. He was a core special teams contributor and saw additional reps on defense as last season went along.Â
  Â
New to the unit is converted safety Kielan Whitner, who is charted behind Thomas on the strong side. Whitner's skills, honed from years in the defensive backfield, make him ideally suited for the position, which is relied upon heavily in pass coverage. Also, new to the Orange, but not defensive coordinator Brian Ward's scheme is graduate transfer Austin Valdez. Valdez played a season under Ward at Bowling Green and had the most productive year of his career, making 144 tackles on his way to All-MAC First Team honors.
Redshirt sophomores Troy Henderson and Shyheim Cullen received their first taste of college football last season and are candidates to contribute on special teams. Adam Dulka is in his second year with the program after redshirting the 2016 season.
Rounding out the group are freshmen Nadarius Fagan, Tyrell Richards and Kadeem Trotter. A two-time All-Dade County (Fla.) selection, Fagan enrolled at SU in January and participated in spring practice. Richards and Trotter arrived during the summer. Richards hails from Brampton, Ontario, Canada where he was the No. 4 overall Canadian prospect in the Class of 2017, according to ESPN. Trotter played safety and linebacker at Ohio's McKinley High School, earning PrepStar All-Midwest plaudits.
Syracuse kicks off the 2017 campaign against Central Connecticut State on Friday, Sept. 1 in the Carrier Dome. Season tickets, partial plans and group tickets are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125.
Â
Single-game tickets for all home games are also on sale. Tickets start at $25 for non-conference games against Central Connecticut State, Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan, $30 for ACC matchups with Wake Forest and Boston College, $35 for the Oct. 7 Pittsburgh game on Orange Central Weekend, and $45 for the Clemson game on Oct. 13.
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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