Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
#CuseCamp17 Position Preview: Secondary
8/18/2017 2:44:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The only position bit by the injury bug as much as the offensive line in 2016 was the secondary, so the unit is likely to immediately benefit from the return of multiple contributors. The Orange also brought in two graduate transfers who add experience and even more depth to secondary coach Nick Monroe's unit.
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It's hard to overstate how much the return of Antwan Cordy from injury impacts the SU defense. He was lost for the year after suffering a forearm injury in Week 2 against Louisville last season and the back end was never the same. Cordy came back stronger than ever and reclaimed the starting free safety spot this spring. He was SU's second-leading tackler in 2015, including a team-high 12 for a loss.
"Not being on the field last year, I really studied the game," Cordy said. "It hurt not being able to be out there with my team, but I'm back now, so it's all good."
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Classmate Juwan Dowels was also lost for the year against the Cardinals. He missed all of spring practice as well, but entered fall camp second on the depth chart at corner behind sophomore starter Scoop Bradshaw. Bradshaw played in 10 games as a freshman and saw extensive action with the first unit during spring drills.
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Opposite Bradshaw, is redshirt sophomore Christopher Fredrick. Fredrick came on strong at the end of last season and started the final six games. He had a career day against Florida State, logging six tackles, an interception, and two forced fumbles.
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Graduate transfer Devin M. Butler enrolled at Syracuse in January after playing 37 games in three seasons at Notre Dame. He's slated to serve as Fredrick's understudy. Freshman Ifeatu Melifonwu is also competing for snaps at corner. Melifonwu is the younger brother of second-round NFL Draft pick Obi Melifonwu. Ifeatu was an all-purpose star at Grafton High School in Massachusetts, earning first-team all-state honors at running back from USA Today as a senior.
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At strong safety, sophomore Evan Foster sits atop the depth chart after an impressive spring. He's backed up by veteran Rodney Williams, who was fourth on the team in tackles (60) a year ago.
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Junior Daivon Ellison, who had 90 tackles in 2016 in place of Cordy, is a veteran presence. So is redshirt junior cornerback Cordell Hudson (85 career tackles) and Toledo graduate transfer Jordan Martin. Martin broke up 11 passes in 34 games at cornerback for the Rockets.
Sophomore Carl Jones, redshirt freshman Devon Clarke and and true freshman Eric Coley add depth at the safety positions. Jones played in every game as a rookie and made an impact on special teams. Clarke redshirted a year ago and is still maturing in the system. Coley, the son of SU defensive tackles coach Vinson Reynolds, starred on the local high school football scene for Fayetteville-Manlius.
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.  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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It's hard to overstate how much the return of Antwan Cordy from injury impacts the SU defense. He was lost for the year after suffering a forearm injury in Week 2 against Louisville last season and the back end was never the same. Cordy came back stronger than ever and reclaimed the starting free safety spot this spring. He was SU's second-leading tackler in 2015, including a team-high 12 for a loss.
"Not being on the field last year, I really studied the game," Cordy said. "It hurt not being able to be out there with my team, but I'm back now, so it's all good."
  Â
Classmate Juwan Dowels was also lost for the year against the Cardinals. He missed all of spring practice as well, but entered fall camp second on the depth chart at corner behind sophomore starter Scoop Bradshaw. Bradshaw played in 10 games as a freshman and saw extensive action with the first unit during spring drills.
  Â
Opposite Bradshaw, is redshirt sophomore Christopher Fredrick. Fredrick came on strong at the end of last season and started the final six games. He had a career day against Florida State, logging six tackles, an interception, and two forced fumbles.
  Â
Graduate transfer Devin M. Butler enrolled at Syracuse in January after playing 37 games in three seasons at Notre Dame. He's slated to serve as Fredrick's understudy. Freshman Ifeatu Melifonwu is also competing for snaps at corner. Melifonwu is the younger brother of second-round NFL Draft pick Obi Melifonwu. Ifeatu was an all-purpose star at Grafton High School in Massachusetts, earning first-team all-state honors at running back from USA Today as a senior.
  Â
At strong safety, sophomore Evan Foster sits atop the depth chart after an impressive spring. He's backed up by veteran Rodney Williams, who was fourth on the team in tackles (60) a year ago.
  Â
Junior Daivon Ellison, who had 90 tackles in 2016 in place of Cordy, is a veteran presence. So is redshirt junior cornerback Cordell Hudson (85 career tackles) and Toledo graduate transfer Jordan Martin. Martin broke up 11 passes in 34 games at cornerback for the Rockets.
Sophomore Carl Jones, redshirt freshman Devon Clarke and and true freshman Eric Coley add depth at the safety positions. Jones played in every game as a rookie and made an impact on special teams. Clarke redshirted a year ago and is still maturing in the system. Coley, the son of SU defensive tackles coach Vinson Reynolds, starred on the local high school football scene for Fayetteville-Manlius.
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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