2020 Spring Position Previews - Syracuse University Athletics

QUARTERBACKS
Lettermen Returning (1): Tommy DeVito (R-Jr.)
Lettermen Lost (1): Clayton Welch
Key 2019 Redshirts (1): David Summers (R-Fr.)
Starters Returning (1): Tommy DeVito (R-Jr.)
Starters Lost: None

#13 Tommy DeVito (R-Jr., 6-2, 206)

Passed for 2,360 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in his first season as Syracuse's starter.
Ended 2019 with a streak of 170 consecutive passes without an interception, the third-longest active streak in the FBS heading into 2020 behind Clemson's Trevor Lawrence (239) and Auburn's Bo Nix (191).
Finished No. 2 in Syracuse single-season history in interception avoidance (1.48), trailing only Perry Patterson's 2006 mark of 1.33.
Completed 213-of-337 passes to rank third in the ACC and No. 35 nationally in completion percentage (.632).
Tied Ryan Nassib (2010) and Donovan McNabb (1996) for the most TD passes by a sophomore in school history (19).

#17 Rex Culpepper (R-Sr., 6-3, 217)

Second behind Tommy DeVito among rostered quarterbacks with six games of experience under center, including one start.
Saw action against Pittsburgh and Boston College in 2019.
Has completed 45-of-76 (.592) passes for 518 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in his career.
Made his first career start versus Boston College in 2017 and threw for 280 yards, the most by any Syracuse quarterback in their initial first-string appearance.
Spent the majority of the 2018 season at tight end.
Winner of the 2018 Jim DaRin Courage Award for the quiet strength he displayed in winning his battle with testicular cancer.

Notes: Former McNeese State head coach Sterlin Gilbert enters his first season as the Orange's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach ... In Gilbert's previous seven seasons tutoring college quarterbacks, his starting passers have averaged more than 3,500 yards and 26 TDs per season ... Among Gilbert's notable pupils are Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois), Shane Buechele (Texas) and Quinton Flowers (USF) ... Redshirt freshman David Summers is in his second year with the program ... Summers was the No. 23 pocket passer in the Class of 2019, according to ESPN ... The Orange signed two quarterbacks in February who will add depth to the group when they arrive this summer ... Dillon Markiewicz was the fourth-leading passer in the talent-rich state of Texas as a senior at McKinney North High School, while JaCobian Morgan accounted for 30 touchdowns (27 TD passes) in his final prep campaign at Canton High School in Mississippi.

RUNNING BACKS
Lettermen Returning (3): Abdul Adams (R-Sr.), Jarveon Howard (Jr.), Markenzy Pierre (R-Jr.)
Lettermen Lost (2): Moe Neal, Otto Zaccardo
Key 2019 Redshirts (2): Garrison Johnson (R-Fr.), Jawhar Jordan (R-Fr.)
Key Newcomers (1): Cooper Lutz (R-So.)
Starters Returning: None
Starters Lost (1): Moe Neal

#23 Abdul Adams (R-Sr., 5-11, 212)

Transferred to Syracuse from Oklahoma in January 2018.
Served as Moe Neal's primary backup in 2019 and ranked third on the team in rushing with 336 yards on 87 carries (3.9 avg.).
Tied for second on the Orange with three rushing touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 141 yards (9.4 avg.) last season.
Excelled as a gunner on the punt team, recording three tackles and a fumble recovery in coverage.
Responsible for the longest rushing play in the history of Oklahoma football, scoring a 99-yard touchdown against Baylor in 2017.

#28 Jarveon Howard (Jr., 5-10, 214)

Mainly a short-yardage back early in his career, Howard saw more carries on regular down and distances during the back half of 2019.
Second on the team in rushing with 337 yards and three touchdowns on 76 carries (4.4 avg.) last season.
Recorded the first 100-yard rushing game of his career at Duke, carrying nine times for 115 yards and a touchdown.
In 23 career games, has rushed for 652 yards and 10 touchdowns on 144 carries (4.5 avg.).
Hails from the same hometown (Columbia, Miss.) as Chicago Bears legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton.

Notes: Fortunately, the Orange have a host of experienced ball carriers to replace two-year starter Moe Neal, who exhausted his eligibility after 2019 ... In addition to Adams and Howard, redshirt junior Markenzy Pierre owns 38 career carries ... Pierre was a valuable special teams member last season, serving as one of Syracuse's deep men on kickoff return ... Redshirt freshman Jawhar Jordan flashed his speed and skills as a playmaker during his first season ... In four games in 2019, Jordan rushed 15 times for 105 yards (7.0 avg.) and a touchdown, while catching two passes for 87 yards (43.5 avg.) ... Jordan's 223 all-purpose yards (35 rushing, 87 receiving, 101 return) against Louisville was one of the most impressive individual performances of last year ... Redshirt freshman Garrison Johnson turned heads in practice last season with his bruising running style ... Redshirt sophomore Cooper Lutz joins the group after working at inside receiver for two seasons.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Lettermen Returning (4): Taj Harris (Jr.), Cameron Jordan (R-Jr.), Nykeim Johnson (Sr.), Anthony Queeley (R-So.)
Lettermen Lost (2): Trishton Jackson, Sean Riley
Key 2019 Redshirts (2): Courtney Jackson (R-Fr.), Kevin Mital (R-Fr.)
Key Newcomers (1): Ja'Vontae Williams (Fr.)
Starters Returning (1): Taj Harris (Jr.)
Starters Lost (2): Trishton Jackson, Sean Riley

#80 Taj Harris (Jr., 6-2, 172)

Two-year returning starter at outside receiver.
In 24 career games (19 starts), has 77 receptions for 1,124 yards (14.6 avg.) and five touchdowns.
In 2019, ranked second on the team in both catches (37) and receiving yards (559).
Averaged 15.1 yards per catch and had at least one reception in 10 out of 12 games last year.
Caught a 94-yard TD against Pittsburgh in 2019, tied for the second-longest reception in school history.

#82 Nykeim Johnson (Sr., 5-8, 168)

Speedy slot receiver and return man who has played in 35 career games (11 starts).
Made 19 catches for 99 yards (5.2 avg.) in 2019, including snagging three balls for a season-best 47 yards versus Pittsburgh.
As a sophomore in 2018, Johnson ranked third on the team with 41 catches.
The average length of his four TD receptions that season was 54.3 yards and he caught at least one pass in every game.

Notes: With 2019 starters Trishton Jackson and Sean Riley departing, the competition to replace their 102 combined receptions from last season should be high ... Now in their fourth years with the program, redshirt juniors Cameron Jordan and Sharod Johnson have the most experience of anyone in the receiver room outside of Harris and Johnson ... Jordan, who is charted as the starter opposite Harris at outside receiver this spring, has been a valuable member of Syracuse's special teams the past two two years and made three catches for 20 yards (6.7 avg.) in 2019 ... Johnson has eight receptions for 97 yards (12.1 avg.) in 11 career games and is in line to back up Nykeim Johnson in the slot ... The receiving corps features a list of promising young players, including Ed Hendrix, Courtney Jackson and Anthony Queeley... A highly-touted receiver in the Class of 2018, Hendrix will compete with Jordan for time at outside receiver after missing the last two seasons due to leg injuries ... Jackson played in one game as a true freshman in 2019 after a record-setting career at Pennsylvania's Gateway High School and is expected to share second-team reps with Sharod Johnson at inside receiver ... Queeley is listed as Harris' primary understudy this spring ... Early enrollee Ja'Vontae Williams arrived on campus in January ... Williams starred at Florida's Glades Central High School and was named to the Palm Beach Post "Super 11."

TIGHT ENDS
Lettermen Returning (3): Luke Benson (So.), Chris Elmore (Sr.), Aaron Hackett (Sr.)
Lettermen Lost (1): Ben Honis
Key Newcomers (1): Maximilian Mang (Fr.)
Starters Returning (1): Aaron Hackett (Sr.)
Starters Lost: None

#89 Aaron Hackett (Sr., 6-3, 245)

Caught 23 passes for 205 yards (8.9 avg.) and six touchdowns in 2019.
His 23 receptions were more than five times his career total (4) entering the season.
Second among ACC tight ends behind Louisville's Marshon Ford (7) with six touchdowns, the most for a Syracuse tight end since 2011 when Nick Provo led the team with seven.
Winner of Syracuse's Bill Maxwell Award as the team's most improved player on offense.

#5 Chris Elmore (Sr., 6-0, 292)

Fourth-year player who has appeared in all 37 games (eight starts) since 2016 as a tight end/fullback.
In 2019, blocked for an offense that surpassed 500 total yards twice and gained 200+ rushing yards on three occasions.
Tried his hand at defensive tackle last season, carding nine tackles in 76 snaps.
Three career rushing touchdowns.

#87 Luke Benson (So., 6-3, 216)

2019 Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Third Team selection.
Caught eight passes for 176 yards (22.0 avg.) and ranked second on the team with three touchdown receptions.
Had a 70-yard touchdown catch against Holy Cross, the second-longest TD reception ever for a Syracuse tight end behind John Mackey's 74-yarder versus Colgate in 1961.

Notes: Tight end is arguably the deepest position on the Syracuse roster ... Hackett (reliable receiver and red-zone threat), Elmore (devastating blocker) and Benson (ability to stretch the defense) all bring different elements to the offense ... Redshirt seniors Jesse Conners and Zack Lesko are back for their final seasons ... Both players were injured in 2019 ... Conners transferred to Syracuse from Holy Cross in 2017, but arm and leg injuries have kept him from making his college debut ... Lesko was hurt during a kickoff return against Western Michigan and did not play for the rest of 2019 ... At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, January enrollee Maximilian Mang is a raw prospect with a huge upside ... A native of Nuthetal, Germany, Mang and offensive lineman Mark Petry are believed to be the first German-born players to ever suit up for the Orange (records date back to 1946).

OFFENSIVE LINE
Lettermen Returning (6): Matthew Bergeron (So.), Dakota Davis (R-Jr.), Patrick Davis (Sr.), Airon Servais (R-Sr.), Darius Tisdale (R-Jr.), Carlos Vettorello (R-So.)
Lettermen Lost (2): Evan Adams, Andrejas Duerig
Key 2019 Redshirts (1): Anthony Red (R-Fr.)
Key Newcomers (2): Chris Bleich (R-So.), Mark Petry (So.)
Starters Returning (4): Matthew Bergeron (So.), Dakota Davis (R-Jr.), Airon Servais (R-Sr.), Carlos Vettorello (R-So.)
Starters Lost (1): Evan Adams

#68 Airon Servais (R-Sr., 6-6, 291)

Enters 2020 with a team-best streak of 37 consecutive starts (33 at center, four at left tackle).
Has delivered 119.5 knockdown blocks over his 3,079 career snaps.
In 2019, tied for the team lead in snaps (940) and was third on the Orange with 47 knockdowns.
Team captain and winner of the 2019 Ben Schwartzwalder Award as Syracuse's exemplary football player.

#57 Dakota Davis (R-Jr., 6-5, 330)

Will miss at least a portion of the spring while recovering from injury.
Started all 12 games at right guard in 2019.
Second on the team with 50 knockdown blocks.
Credited with a career-high seven knockdowns at Florida State.
Became the first player in Syracuse history to win ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after not allowing a sack and recording five knockdowns at Duke.

#52 Carlos Vettorello (R-So., 6-4, 287)

Started all 12 games last season, splitting time at tackle and center.
Tied for the team lead with 940 snaps played and dished out 21 knockdown blocks.
On the field for every offensive snap in five games (NC State, Pittsburgh, Florida State, Louisville, Wake Forest).
Named to the Pro Football Focus ACC Team of the Week after recording four knockdowns and not allowing a sack in 70 snaps versus Holy Cross.

#60 Matthew Bergeron (So., 6-4, 305)

Named to the 2019 Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Second Team.
Totaled 20 knockdown blocks in 425 snaps.
Started the last five games of the season at right tackle.
Syracuse averaged 215.6 yards rushing per game with Bergeron in the starting lineup, 61.6 yards more per contest than its season average (154.0).
At Florida State, became the first true freshman to start a game at tackle for the Orange since Quinn Ojinnaka versus Rutgers in 2002.
Attended Cégep de Thetford in Quebec. First player in Thetford history to receive an NCAA Division I football scholarship.

Notes: Four starters return up front – Servais (LT), Vettorello (C), Davis (RG) and Bergeron (RT) ... Servais went from center to left tackle and Vettorello moved from left tackle to center for the last three games of 2019 and the results spoke for themselves ... Syracuse averaged 242.3 yards rushing during that span, 88.3 yards more than its season average (154.0), and the Orange's sacks allowed went from 4.9 per game to 1.7 ... Redshirt junior Darius Tisdale will sport a new jersey number (56) and work as the first-string right guard until Davis is healthy ... Senior Patrick Davis and Austin Chandler are competing at left guard ... Davis is the more experienced of the two and is listed as the starter ... Redshirt sophomore Chris Bleich and true sophomore Mark Petry joined the program in January ... Bleich, who transferred to Syracuse from Florida after starting eight games at right guard for the Gators in 2019, will sit out the 2020 season unless he's granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA ... Petry comes to Central New York from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa ... Originally from Hochheim am Main, Germany, Petry and tight end Maximilian Mang are believed to be the first German-born players to represent the Orange (records date back to 1946) ... Petry and redshirt freshman Anthony Red are the primary backups at right and left tackle, respectively.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Lettermen Returning (3): Josh Black (R-Sr.), Curtis Harper (R-Jr.), Kingsley Jonathan (Sr.)
Lettermen Lost (5): Brandon Berry, Kendall Coleman, Shaq Grosvenor, Alton Robinson, Kenneth Ruff
Key 2019 Redshirts (5): Cooper Dawson (R-Fr.), Jason Muñoz (R-Fr.), Joe Rondi (R-Fr.), Drew Tuazama (R-Fr.), McKinley Williams (R-Sr.)
Key Newcomers (1): Latarie Kinsler (Fr.)
Starters Returning (1): Josh Black (R-Sr.)
Starters Lost (3): Kendall Coleman, Alton Robinson, Kenneth Ruff

#85 Josh Black (R-Sr., 6-3, 277)

Versatile defensive lineman who has played both end and tackle in his career.
Started all 12 games at nose tackle in 2019 and recorded 39 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks.
Named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his two-sack performance in last year's season opener at Liberty.
In 37 games (25 starts) over four seasons, has 82 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks.

#98 McKinley Williams (R-Sr., 6-3, 283)

Experienced defensive tackle who was limited to three games in 2019 because of a foot injury.
In 39 games (15 starts) over four seasons, has 64 tackles (36 solo), including 10 for a loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.
One of the most physically-gifted players on the team (can do a back handspring).

#57 Kingsley Jonathan (Sr., 6-3, 256)

Will miss at least a portion of the spring while recovering from injury.
Rotational defensive end in his first three seasons who has proved to be an effective pass rusher, registering 7.5 sacks in limited action.
Tallied a personal-best 24 tackles, including three for a loss, and 1.5 sacks in 2019.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria.
Named to the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.
One of the ACC's three representatives with voting power under the NCAA Division I autonomy process for the 2019-20 academic year.

Notes: Defensive line coach Vinson Reynolds will be tasked with replacing three-fourths of last year's front, including ends Kendall Coleman and Alton Robinson, who combined for 35 career sacks ... One of the strongest players on the team, Black has played inside the past two seasons, but is slated to man one of the two defensive end positions in new defensive coordinator Tony White's 3-3-5 scheme ... Black began his career at end and started nine games there as a freshman in 2016 ... Until Jonathan returns, redshirt freshman Drew Tuazama and redshirt sophomore Caleb Okechukwu will receive the lion's share of practice reps opposite Black ... Tuazama made his Orange debut versus Holy Cross last year and carded two tackles ... A 2018 Under Armour All-American, Okechukwu returns to the field after missing all of last season due to illness ... Redshirt freshman Kevon Darton is charted as the backup to Williams at defensive tackle while redshirt junior Curtis Harper works his way back from injury ... Harper tallied 13 tackles and two sacks in 2019 ... Tight end Chris Elmore is also an option inside ... Elmore dabbled at defensive tackle last season, making nine tackles in limited snaps going both ways ... Freshman Latarie Kinsler, the highest-rated player in Syracuse's incoming class, enrolled in January ... Kinsler earned FloridaHSFootball.com Class 1A All-State honors twice and was website's Class 1A Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

LINEBACKERS
Lettermen Returning (6): Geoff Cantin-Arku (So.), Mikel Jones (So.), Lee Kpogba (So.), Tyrell Richards (R-Jr.), Kadeem Trotter (R-Jr.), Juan Wallace (Jr.)
Lettermen Lost (2): Andrew Armstrong, Lakiem Williams
Key 2019 Redshirts (2): Ishmael Goulbourne (R-Fr.), Steve Linton (R-Fr.)
Key Newcomers (1): Stefon Thompson (Fr.)
Starters Returning: None
Starters Lost (2): Andrew Armstrong, Lakiem Williams

#13 Mikel Jones (So., 6-0, 211)

2019 Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Third Team selection.
Played in all 12 games, starting four.
Led all Syracuse freshmen with 38 tackles last season.
Career-high 10 tackles in the season finale versus Wake Forest.

#42 Tyrell Richards (R-Jr., 6-4, 236)

Charted as the starting weakside linebacker entering spring practice.
Served as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker during his first two active seasons.
Has 30 career tackles and four sacks.
2019 Joe Szombathy Award winner as the program's top special teams player and led the Orange with six special teams tackles last season.
Tallied a career-high six tackles, including a sack, in Syracuse's 2018 Camping World Bowl victory against West Virginia.

Notes: Syracuse will have to replace all of its starting linebackers for the third year in a row, as Andrew Armstrong and Lakiem Williams exhausted their eligibility after 2019 ... In addition to Jones, sophomores Geoff Cantin-Arku and Lee Kpogba got their first taste of college football last year, as both contributed heavily on special teams ... Cantin-Arku opens the spring as the starter and middle linebacker ... Redshirt freshmen Steve Linton and Ishmael Goulbourne joined the linebacking corps in the offseason ... Linton carded two tackles in three games in 2019 and will begin the spring as the starter on the strong side ... After battling injuries for most of his career, redshirt junior Kadeem Trotter was a mainstay on Syracuse's kickoff coverage team in 2019 and is set to compete with Linton for playing time ... Early enrollee Stefon Thompson joins the unit, as well ... Thompson racked up 162 tackles to lead Zebulon B. Vance High School to the 2019 North Carolina Class 4AA State Championship.

SECONDARY
Lettermen Returning (6): Andre Cisco (Jr.), Devon Clarke (R-Jr.), Eric Coley (R-Jr.), Ifeatu Melifonwu (R-Jr.), Allen Stritzinger (Sr.), Trill Williams (Jr.)
Lettermen Lost (7): Scoop Bradshaw, Antwan Cordy, Christopher Fredrick, Evan Foster, DuWayne Johnson, Carl Jones, Kyle Strickland
Key 2019 Redshirts (4): Adrian Cole (R-Fr.), Neil Nunn (R-Fr.), Aman Greenwood (R-Fr.), Garrett Williams (R-Fr.)
Starters Returning (3): Andre Cisco, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Trill Williams
Starters Lost (3): Antwan Cordy, Christopher Fredrick, Evan Foster

#7 Andre Cisco (Jr., 6-0, 206)

All-America and Jim Thorpe Award candidate.
2019 All-ACC Second Team selection.
Enters the 2020 season as the FBS active leader in interceptions (12) and ranks No. 2 in passes defended per game (1.27) behind Stanford's Paulson Adebo (1.73).
Led the ACC in interceptions each of his first two seasons (shared the 2018 lead with Boston College's Hamp Cheevers).
Tallied 68 tackles, five interceptions and 10 passes defended in 2019.
In 22 career games (19 starts) at free safety, has 125 tackles (87 solo), 28 passes defended (12 INT, 16 breakups), two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
2018 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

#23 Ifeatu Melifonwu (R-Jr., 6-3, 206)

Returning starter at cornerback.
In 2019, tied for the Syracuse lead with 10 passes defended, including a team-best eight breakups.
Tied for third in the ACC last season with 1.11 passes defended per game.
In 18 career games (eight starts), has 33 tackles to go along with 16 passes defended (2 INT, 14 breakups).
Brother, Obi Melifonwu, is a safety for the New England Patriots.

#6 Trill Williams (Jr., 6-2, 196)

Served as Syracuse primary nickelback in 2019, but has also played corner and begins the spring at the top the depth chart there.
Made 38 tackles last season and tied for second in the ACC with three forced fumbles.
Earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors for his performance against Wake Forest. Williams had a career-high eight tackles versus the Demon Deacons and returned a fumble 94-yards for a touchdown in overtime.
In 23 games (11 starts), has 69 tackles (50 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups.
Two of his three career interceptions have been against Clemson.

#34 Eric Coley (R-Jr., 6-2, 196)

Opens the spring as the starter at Rover, as Syracuse transitions to a 3-3-5 scheme.
Primary backup at both safety positions last season and ranked fifth on the team with 48 tackles (29).
Intercepted his first career pass last season versus Western Michigan.
Stepson of Orange defensive line coach Vinson Reynolds.

Notes: Redshirt freshmen Garrett Williams and Adrian Cole worked at corner while redshirting in 2019 and are slated as the primary understudies to Trill Williams and Melifonwu, respectively ... Garrett Williams saw action in four games as a member of the kickoff coverage unit, while Cole appeared in two games ... Senior Allen Stritzinger, who has played in 20 games on the defense since moving to that side of the ball from running back, is expected to compete with Coley for snaps at Rover ... Aman Greenwood and Neil Nunn redshirted a year ago and will man the field safety position with Greenwood starting the spring with the first unit ... Greenwood appeared in one game last season after arriving at Syracuse from Washington, D.C. powerhouse St. John's College High School ... Nunn was one of the top safety prospects in the Class of 2019 coming out of Miami's Palmetto High School.

SPECIALISTS
Lettermen Returning (3): Aaron Bolinsky (Jr.), Nolan Cooney (R-Sr.), Andre Szmyt (R-Jr.)
Lettermen Lost (1): Sterling Hofrichter
Starters Returning (2): Aaron Bolinsky (Jr.), Andre Szmyt (R-Jr.)
Starters Lost (1): Sterling Hofrichter

#91 Andre Szmyt (R-Jr., 6-1, 191)

All-America and Lou Groza Award candidate.
Enters the 2020 season as the FBS active leader in points scored per game (9.6) and field goals made per game (1.88).
Syracuse's all-time leader in field-goal percentage (.870, 47-54).
Is 34-for-35 (.971) from inside 40 yards and a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond 50 yards in his career.
Ranks in the top 10 in Orange history in the following categories: 50+ yard field goals (3rd - 4), extra points made (6th - 100), extra points attempted (6th - 101), field goals made (t-6th, 47) and field goals attempted (9th - 54).
2018 Lou Groza Award winner and unanimous All-American.

#50 Aaron Bolinsky (Jr., 5-11, 224)

Returning starter at long snapper.
Helped the Orange punt team lead the ACC for the third consecutive year and finish No. 3 nationally in net average (43.03).
Tallied two tackles and forced a fumble to assist a coverage team that ranked fifth in the FBS in punt return yardage defense (1.7 ypr) and set the school single-season record for the fewest punt return yards allowed (17).
Named to the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

Notes: Syracuse returns two of its three starters from a special teams unit that continues to rank among the nation's best ... Redshirt senior Nolan Cooney will receive the first opportunity to fill the void left by the departure of four-year starting punter Sterling Hofrichter ... Cooney has been Syracuse's holder for placement kicks the last two seasons and kicked off twice at Louisville last year when Hofrichter was injured ... Special teams coordinator Justin Lustig is also in the market for a new primary return man following the departure of all-time leading kick returner Sean Riley ... Senior Nykeim Johnson and redshirt freshman Jawhar Jordan are candidates to fill the role on kickoff return ... Johnson has run back 11 kickoffs, while Jordan returned four kickoffs in limited duty last season ... Running back Markenzy Pierre was back deep with Riley for every game in 2019 and averaged 24.0 yards on four returns ... Defensive back Trill Williams was a dynamic return man in high school and is in line to succeed Riley as the team's primary punt returner.