Photo by: Ryan Nix
#CampCuse Position Preview: Linebackers
8/16/2018 10:59:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Of all the defensive units, the linebacker grouping was hit hardest by departures during the offseason. Syracuse's two top tacklers, Parris Bennett (115) and Zaire Franklin (85), completed their eligibility after starting for three seasons. Each earned All-ACC recognition. Jonathan Thomas finished his tenure with a senior campaign that included seven starts and 50 tackles.
On the surface, outsiders might expect the group to take a step back because of the loss of production. But that's not how senior Kielan Whitner sees it. He believes that trio, along with Austin Valdez, set a high bar for the rest of the room and that expectations shouldn't change just because they are no longer at Syracuse.
"Zaire, Parris and JT, those guys laid the foundation for us as a linebacking group,"Â Whitner said. "Zaire, everyone knows about his leadership and what type of guy he is, he made it his mission to take us all under his wing and set the standard in the linebacker room. We know we have big shoes to fill, but I feel like we all know the expectations and those expectations haven't diminished with those guys leaving."
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While the groups's expectations aren't changing, one thing that could is the number of linebackers on the field during a given play. Because of personnel and the proliferation of spread offenses in college football, Syracuse may play more nickel this season, utilizing two linebackers and an extra defensive back.
Whitner and Ryan Guthrie were penciled in to take over the spots vacated by Bennett and Franklin, respectively, on the preseason depth chart. Each played all 12 contests in 2017. A converted defensive back, Whitner is expected to serve as the primary weak-side linebacker. He has two nine-tackle games in his career. Guthrie, a two-time All-American at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa, spent a portion of last season working at defensive end, and recorded a key sack in the win over Pittsburgh.
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Junior Andrew Armstrong, who owns two varsity letters, is capable of stepping in behind Guthrie. Armstrong is a core special teams player. He had 13 tackles in 2017, including five on kickoff coverage. He also recovered a fumble. Like Armstrong, redshirt junior Shyheim Cullen has two letters and is an important cog in Syracuse's special teams. Cullen was slated for second-team status at weak-side 'backer on the preseason depth chart.
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Redshirt sophomore Tim Walton participated in two games a season ago. In addition to working with the linebackers, Walton has also spent time at defensive end to build up the depth at that position. Tyrell Richards and Kadeem Trotter, each a redshirt freshman, also have their sights set on playing time this fall.
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Three first-year scholarship linebackers – Tre Allison from John Tyler High School (Texas), Juan Wallace from IMG Academy in Florida, and Butte College (Calif.) transfer Lakiem Williams – have been added to the roster. Wallace and Williams both enrolled in January. Williams was one of the top linebackers in the junior-college ranks. Wallace starred at H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. before suiting up for the Ascenders as a senior. A two-time Associated Press 6A Honorable Mention choice, Allison chose the Orange over in-state TCU in February.
Syracuse kicks off the 2018 campaign Friday, Aug. 31 at Western Michigan. The Orange's first home game is Saturday, Sept. 8 versus Wagner.
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Season and individual game tickets for Orange football 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 for Syracuse's six home games. Single-game tickets start at $20 for Wagner and $25 for the Connecticut game on Sept. 22. For Syracuse's four Atlantic Coast Conference games, tickets are available for as little as $35.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football). Â
On the surface, outsiders might expect the group to take a step back because of the loss of production. But that's not how senior Kielan Whitner sees it. He believes that trio, along with Austin Valdez, set a high bar for the rest of the room and that expectations shouldn't change just because they are no longer at Syracuse.
"Zaire, Parris and JT, those guys laid the foundation for us as a linebacking group,"Â Whitner said. "Zaire, everyone knows about his leadership and what type of guy he is, he made it his mission to take us all under his wing and set the standard in the linebacker room. We know we have big shoes to fill, but I feel like we all know the expectations and those expectations haven't diminished with those guys leaving."
 Â
While the groups's expectations aren't changing, one thing that could is the number of linebackers on the field during a given play. Because of personnel and the proliferation of spread offenses in college football, Syracuse may play more nickel this season, utilizing two linebackers and an extra defensive back.
Whitner and Ryan Guthrie were penciled in to take over the spots vacated by Bennett and Franklin, respectively, on the preseason depth chart. Each played all 12 contests in 2017. A converted defensive back, Whitner is expected to serve as the primary weak-side linebacker. He has two nine-tackle games in his career. Guthrie, a two-time All-American at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa, spent a portion of last season working at defensive end, and recorded a key sack in the win over Pittsburgh.
  Â
Junior Andrew Armstrong, who owns two varsity letters, is capable of stepping in behind Guthrie. Armstrong is a core special teams player. He had 13 tackles in 2017, including five on kickoff coverage. He also recovered a fumble. Like Armstrong, redshirt junior Shyheim Cullen has two letters and is an important cog in Syracuse's special teams. Cullen was slated for second-team status at weak-side 'backer on the preseason depth chart.
  Â
Redshirt sophomore Tim Walton participated in two games a season ago. In addition to working with the linebackers, Walton has also spent time at defensive end to build up the depth at that position. Tyrell Richards and Kadeem Trotter, each a redshirt freshman, also have their sights set on playing time this fall.
  Â
Three first-year scholarship linebackers – Tre Allison from John Tyler High School (Texas), Juan Wallace from IMG Academy in Florida, and Butte College (Calif.) transfer Lakiem Williams – have been added to the roster. Wallace and Williams both enrolled in January. Williams was one of the top linebackers in the junior-college ranks. Wallace starred at H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. before suiting up for the Ascenders as a senior. A two-time Associated Press 6A Honorable Mention choice, Allison chose the Orange over in-state TCU in February.
Syracuse kicks off the 2018 campaign Friday, Aug. 31 at Western Michigan. The Orange's first home game is Saturday, Sept. 8 versus Wagner.
Â
Season and individual game tickets for Orange football 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 for Syracuse's six home games. Single-game tickets start at $20 for Wagner and $25 for the Connecticut game on Sept. 22. For Syracuse's four Atlantic Coast Conference games, tickets are available for as little as $35.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football). Â
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