Orange Stars Dot Athlon's Preseason All-ACC Squad
5/24/2023 4:33:00 PM | Football
Led by First Team selection Oronde Gadsden II, 'Cuse took eight spots on Athlon's Preseason All-ACC Team.
Gadsden, who finished last season as an All-ACC and AP All-ACC First Team honoree at tight end, is listed in the same spot by Athlon for the 2023 campaign. He's joined by linevacker Marlowe Wax (second team), defensive lineman Caleb Okechukwu (third team), return man Trebor Pena (third team punt returner, fourth team kick returner), linebacker Stefon Thompson (fourth team), and safety Justin Barron (fourth team) in garnering preseason accolades by the publication.
Gadsden Caught 61 passes for 969 yards and six touchdowns in 2022, leading all tight ends nationally in receiving yardage. His 969 receiving yards was the seventh-most in a season in Syracuse history and his 61 catches were the most by an Orange sophomore in program history, passing Mike Williams (60/2007). It is also Syracuse's single-season record for receptions by a tight end, passing Nick Provo (51/2011). Gadsden set a new program record for single-season yards by a tight end, passing Chris Gedney (587/1992). His six receiving touchdowns finished sixth in the ACC.
Wax, who was voted as a team captain for 2023, was an honorable mention All-ACC selection last season. He started all-13 games, making him the only member of the team's linebacking corps to appear in every game on defense. He finished the year with a team-best 91 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss on the season. His 91 tackles ranked 11th in the ACC last season. He also had 4.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
Wax's co-host on The Mob Podcast, Okechukwu checks in as a third team defensive end. The redshirt junior has appeared in every game over the last three seasons, making 83 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks. An ECAC All-Star, he tallied a team-high 7.0 sacks and two forced fumbles and was second on the team with 10.0 tackles for loss in 2022.
Pena is coming off his most productive season yet in Orange. He appeared in 11 games with three starts, where he caught 22 passes for 203 yards, returned 12 kickoffs for 326 yards (27.2 avg.) and returned 21 punts for 182 yards (8.7 avg.). The return game is where he did the most damage. He led the ACC in average kickoff return average, a mark that tied for sixth nationally (27.2) and was third in the ACC in punt return average (8.7), which was good for 19th in the FBS. Pena was also second in the ACC and 23rd nationally in combined kick returns (508).
Barron, another team captain in 2023, spent the entire 2022 season as the team's starting rover. He made a career-best 65 tackles last season, which was third on the team and led all defensive backs. He also had five tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup a fumble recovery and a pair of quarterback hurries on the season. He, Wax and Okechukwu were key piece of a defensive unit that finished in the season 14th nationally in passing defense (184.8) and 21st in total defense (328.6).
Thompson had his 2022 season cut short due to a season-ending injury in the season opener. The former Freshman All-American is expected to return to form for 2023, where he has been a starting linebacker since his true freshman season. In 23 collegiate games played (20 starts), he has 117 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 15.0 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
'Cuse is back in action in just 101 days, hosting Colgate on Sept. 2. Season tickets for the 2023 season are on sale now! Don't miss being part of the action in the Loud House this season. Visit Cuse.com/Tickets to secure yours today.
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Gadsden, who finished last season as an All-ACC and AP All-ACC First Team honoree at tight end, is listed in the same spot by Athlon for the 2023 campaign. He's joined by linevacker Marlowe Wax (second team), defensive lineman Caleb Okechukwu (third team), return man Trebor Pena (third team punt returner, fourth team kick returner), linebacker Stefon Thompson (fourth team), and safety Justin Barron (fourth team) in garnering preseason accolades by the publication.
Gadsden Caught 61 passes for 969 yards and six touchdowns in 2022, leading all tight ends nationally in receiving yardage. His 969 receiving yards was the seventh-most in a season in Syracuse history and his 61 catches were the most by an Orange sophomore in program history, passing Mike Williams (60/2007). It is also Syracuse's single-season record for receptions by a tight end, passing Nick Provo (51/2011). Gadsden set a new program record for single-season yards by a tight end, passing Chris Gedney (587/1992). His six receiving touchdowns finished sixth in the ACC.
Wax, who was voted as a team captain for 2023, was an honorable mention All-ACC selection last season. He started all-13 games, making him the only member of the team's linebacking corps to appear in every game on defense. He finished the year with a team-best 91 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss on the season. His 91 tackles ranked 11th in the ACC last season. He also had 4.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
Wax's co-host on The Mob Podcast, Okechukwu checks in as a third team defensive end. The redshirt junior has appeared in every game over the last three seasons, making 83 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks. An ECAC All-Star, he tallied a team-high 7.0 sacks and two forced fumbles and was second on the team with 10.0 tackles for loss in 2022.
Pena is coming off his most productive season yet in Orange. He appeared in 11 games with three starts, where he caught 22 passes for 203 yards, returned 12 kickoffs for 326 yards (27.2 avg.) and returned 21 punts for 182 yards (8.7 avg.). The return game is where he did the most damage. He led the ACC in average kickoff return average, a mark that tied for sixth nationally (27.2) and was third in the ACC in punt return average (8.7), which was good for 19th in the FBS. Pena was also second in the ACC and 23rd nationally in combined kick returns (508).
Barron, another team captain in 2023, spent the entire 2022 season as the team's starting rover. He made a career-best 65 tackles last season, which was third on the team and led all defensive backs. He also had five tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup a fumble recovery and a pair of quarterback hurries on the season. He, Wax and Okechukwu were key piece of a defensive unit that finished in the season 14th nationally in passing defense (184.8) and 21st in total defense (328.6).
Thompson had his 2022 season cut short due to a season-ending injury in the season opener. The former Freshman All-American is expected to return to form for 2023, where he has been a starting linebacker since his true freshman season. In 23 collegiate games played (20 starts), he has 117 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 15.0 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
'Cuse is back in action in just 101 days, hosting Colgate on Sept. 2. Season tickets for the 2023 season are on sale now! Don't miss being part of the action in the Loud House this season. Visit Cuse.com/Tickets to secure yours today.
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