Spring Practice Notebook: Week 1

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse football team wrapped up its first week of spring practice with a two-hour session yesterday morning inside the Ensley Athletic Center. The practice was the Orange's third of the spring, all of which were in helmets and shorts.

The team is off this upcoming week for Syracuse University's Spring Break, which runs from Sunday, March 10 to Sunday, March 17. Practice resumes Tuesday, March 19.

DEVITO PREPARING TO LEAD
With the departure of starting quarterback Eric Dungey, the reins of the Orange offense are now in the hands of redshirt sophomore Tommy DeVito.

DeVito who appeared in eight games last season, is listed as the starter on the spring depth chart. He spent the winter organizing player-led practices. DeVito met with the media after Syracuse's opening practice on Sunday to talk about the transition, what he learned from Dungey, and his expectations for 2019.

FOWARD LEAN
In addition to being Syracuse's leading rusher last season, senior Moe Neal proved to be one of the best in the nation in generating positive rushing plays. Neal gained 878 yards in 2018 and lost only nine to finish atop the Syracuse rushing list with 869 yards. According to ESPN's David Hale, Neal was stopped for a loss or no gain on eight of his 129 first- or second-down carries (6.2 pct.), the lowest rate of any Power-Five back in a non-option offense. That figure was better than Travis Etienne's mark of 7.4 percent. Etienne went on to win ACC Player of the Year honors for national champion Clemson.

Neal enters his senior season 26th on the program's career rushing list with 1,714 yards.

BABERS RANKED HIGHLY
Spring is the time when many college football pundits begin putting together their preseason rankings as well as their "best of" lists. Earlier this week, the folks at The Athletic ranked the top 25 head coaches heading into 2019. Orange boss Dino Babers made the the cut after guiding the Syracuse to the seventh double-digit win season in team history in 2018. Longtime college football writer and reporter Bruce Feldman placed Babers at No. 14, while Stewart Mandel had him at No. 19.

Feldman Top 25 Coaches: TheAthletic.com/FeldmanCoaches (subscription required)
Mandel Top 25 Coaches: TheAthletic.com/MandelCoaches (subscription required)

ANOTHER CAVANAUGH ON STAFF
Syracuse filled out its coaching staff last week with the addition of Blair Cavanaugh as the program's special teams quality control assistant. The son of Orange offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, Blair comes to Syracuse after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at Ball State. He replaces Jeff LePak, who accepted a full-time coaching position at McNeese State during the offseason.

Cavanaugh Bio: Cuse.com/BlairCavanaugh

TICKETS, TICKETS, TICKETS
Season tickets for 2019 Syracuse football are on sale now. Tickets start at $125 and can be purchased online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

This year's campaign begins Saturday, Aug. 31 on the road against Liberty. The home opener is set for Sept. 14 versus Clemson.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Tommy DeVito

Eric Dungey

Moe Neal

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