Syracuse Football: 2015 Season Preview

Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The Syracuse Orange may see their fair share of struggles, but can they improve upon their 3-9 record from 2014?

The Syracuse Orange have been amongst the best in many collegiate sports; football not being one of them. In 2014, the team finished the season 3-9, only managing to win one game in their division. Wake Forest would be the only other team in the Atlantic Coastal Conference to post the same record, but would fall 30-7 to Syracuse. Not being able to nab many top recruits, Syracuse will be forced to compete among some of the most talented college teams in the country that include, but are not limited to, Clemson, LSU, and Florida State.

However, after being plagued with injuries in 2014, the Orange look to regroup and improve upon their woes in the 2014. It all starts with the man that leads their offense: Terrel Hunt.

Hunt fractured his fibula in the team’s loss against Louisville and would eventually miss the rest of the 2014 season. Though he only appeared in five games, he accounted for two of the team’s wins, including a 40-3 blowout over Central Michigan.

The dual-threat quarterback still has a lot to work on as far as passing in the pocket goes, as he only threw for one touchdown and turned the ball over four times last season. However, his awareness while running the football is his best asset, rushing for 292 yards and six touchdowns on 5.6 yards-per-carry. Behind Hunt will be sophomores AJ Long and Austin Wilson, who were thrown into action after Hunt’s injuries. Both struggled as the two would combine for four touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Neither will likely see much action, as this is Hunt’s team to lead; but in 2016, Long and Wilson will compete for the starting job.

Syracuse lost their main sources of production at running back, as Prince-Tyson Gulley entered the NFL Draft and Adonis Ameen-Moore graduated. There still remains a plethora of running backs battling for carries, as Ervin Phillips, Devante McFarlane and George Morris will all battle for touches. One of the many options the Orange have will likely break out and take over the starting role, but for now, it is running back by committee. Changing up things often could mess up with opposing defenses, but it could also hurt the Orange, as they do not have a running back that has separated himself from the pack.

One of the best players on Syracuse is wide receiver Steve Ishmael. Though he only accumulated 27 receptions, down the stretch he became one of the more reliable receivers. He had 93 yards against Florida State and 97 against Pittsburgh; against tougher competition Ishmael has come up clutch, earning a spot atop the depth chart in the spring. Alongside the 6-foot-2 wide out will be Alvin Cornelius. He only had three receptions last season, but in the most recent depth chart, was ranked as one of the starters. Cornelius is not highly regarded and could become a solid and reliable option for Hunt.

Injuries plagued the offensive line in 2014, as Syracuse toggled between 10 different players. Sean Hickey entered the NFL Draft, but that should not be a huge loss. Syracuse has plenty of offensive lineman with playing experience and, if healthy, could form into a reliable line for the backfield.

As for the defense, many big-playmakers either transferred or left to the draft or graduation. The team built a stable defense which will now require another rebuild. Junior Ron Thompson is back to lead the defensive line after accumulating three sacks last year. Though it is not great, he has established himself as a leader on the defensive side of the ball and should help the replacement defensive lineman fit in nicely. With Durell Eskridge, Darius Kelly, and Ritchy Desir all leaving, Syracuse is left with three less talented members in the secondary. The three were responsible for stopping the deep ball and helped create a stop to big plays.

Losing play-makers on the defensive side of the ball will show its struggles early on. Syracuse will have to rely on youth to outperform their old starters, looking to improve upon the team’s horrendous 2014 campaign.