sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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SU News
3 Star QB Rex Culpepper Verbals Orange (TNIAAM; Keeley)
A day after Scott Shafer said he'd leave the door open for the possibility of adding more quarterbacks, he landed another quarterback. Of course, he meant it in terms of transfers, but, if 2016 recruit Rex Culpepper is as good as the hype, we won't have to worry much about somebody else's leftovers.
The Plant High School (Tampa, FL) recruit verballed to play forthe Syracuse Orange during an unofficial visit to the campus Tuesday. You can credit Tim Lester, who was the main point of contact, with getting Culpepper excited about SU and making the move.
Culpepper is rated three stars by 24/7, ESPN, Rivals and Scout. Scout has him as the sixth-best quarterback out of Florida, 24/7 says he's the 26-best pro-style QB in the class, ESPN thinks he's the 17th-best QB in the class and Rivals thinks he's the 15th-best QB in the 2016 crop.
Depending on who you ask, Culpepper had offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and more. So just going by the company you keep, it's a huge get for the Orange. Especially when you consider that he'll be coming to SU as part of the same backfield that will include RB Robert Washington.
...
2015 SU Football Predictions: Who Will Be the Orange's MVP? (PS; Staff)
Over a span of five weekdays, Syracuse football beat writers Stephen Bailey and Nate Mink will take a look ahead to next season. Topics will include the Orange's new offensive system, an incredibly inexperienced defense, head coach Scott Shafer's job security, SU's overall record and team superlatives.
Today, we'll run the gamut of team superlatives for the 2015 season. Honors include Team MVP, top newcomer and most improved on each side of the ball. Here's where Stephen and Nate stand:
Bailey:
MVP: QB Terrel Hunt
Top newcomer: S Marquise Blair (assuming he qualifies)
Most improved (o): Hybrid Ashton Broyld
Most improved (d) CB Julian Whigham
Leading rusher: Hybrid Erv Philips
Leading receiver: WR Steve Ishmael
Leading tackler: MLB Zaire Franklin
Mink:
MVP: QB Terrel Hunt
Newcomer: DT Chris Slayton
Most improved (o): WR Alvin Cornelius
Most improved (d) DT John Raymon
Leading rusher: RB Devante McFarlane
Leading receiver: WR Steve Ishmael
Leading tackler: MLB Zaire Franklin
...
2015 SU Football Opponent Preview: Wake Forest (sujuiceonline.com; Cheng)
As we countdown to kickoff in September, we’re going to be doing a team-by-team preview each Wednesday over the summer. SU will open its 2015 ACC schedule when they play Wake Forest on Sept. 12.
O-LINE STRUGGLES: Dave Clawson’s first season as head coach of Wake Forest was predictably a struggle, with the team finishing 3-9 and 1-7 in the ACC. The Deacons gutted out an ugly 6-3 win in double overtime against the Hokies in their penultimate game, which showed that while Wake Forest didn’t necessarily have the talent to compete in the ACC, they played hard for their first year coach. Much of the struggles came from a historically bad offensive unit that was 127th in the NCAA in both points (14.8) and rushing yards (39.9) per game. The Demon Deacons offensive line was the main culprit, giving up an unfathomable 48 sacks.
» Related: Previewing SU’s opener against Rhode Island
WHO TO WATCH FOR: Wake Forest’s O-line will need to replace two spots this offseason including Cory Helms, who transferred to South Carolina in January. If Wake’s spring game was any glimpse into the running game in 2015, there’s plenty to be concerned about. Eight different players combined for 50 carries at just 74 net yards. The team’s two top returning rushers, Dezmond Wortham (13 rushes for 51 yards) and Isaiah Robinson (6 rushes for 11 yards) didn’t seem particularly impressive. But Clawson took a different view of the statistics. “If you look at how we run the ball, we’re clearly better from a year ago. How many plays last year didn’t even get back to the line of scrimmage?” he said after the spring game. “Are we ripping off 12, 15, and 20 yard runs? No, but everything’s getting back to the line of scrimmage and getting positive yards.”
PREDICTION: Syracuse’s only conference win came against the Deacons in a convincing 30-7 win. The margin will likely be significantly closer this year, but if Wake Forest continues to struggle protecting its quarterback and setting up the rush, then look for another Syracuse win. SYRACUSE 17, WAKE FOREST 10.
Three Orange Players On Athlon's All-ACC Teams (TNIAAM; Keeley)
know by now not to put too much stock in anything Athlon says when it comes to preseason analysis, but, they've put out their Preseason All-ACC Team and we're required to mention how many Syracuse Orange players got their due. Considering they see Syracuse as the worst team in the ACC headed into 2015, it's not a huge surprise to find their four all-conference squads lacking in Orange.
Still, three players did mention to make the cut. All-World punterRiley Dixon is the highest-rated Syracuse player of all, representing us on the Third-Team. Seems a bit low for a Heisman candidate, but, at least he was properly noted as the best SU player there is (and therefore should wear No. 44 if a committee deems such a thing possible).
As for position players, Athlon doesn't think much of our skills position guys and instead focused on our linemen. Offensive tackleIvan Foy and defensive end Ron Thompson both received Fourth-Team nods. Foy hopes to carry on the recent tradition of That One Syracuse Lineman Who Is Really Good And Parlays That Success Into An NFL Gig while Thompson is looking to make good on the hype that originally brought him to SU as a four-star tight end.
Syracuse far and away had the least number of players across all four All-ACC squads with Pittsburgh and Wake Forest checking in next-lowest at six apiece.
Any Syracuse players you think at least deserved a look at fourth-team? Or do you not care in the least because what does it matter?
3 Star QB Rex Culpepper Verbals Orange (TNIAAM; Keeley)
A day after Scott Shafer said he'd leave the door open for the possibility of adding more quarterbacks, he landed another quarterback. Of course, he meant it in terms of transfers, but, if 2016 recruit Rex Culpepper is as good as the hype, we won't have to worry much about somebody else's leftovers.
The Plant High School (Tampa, FL) recruit verballed to play forthe Syracuse Orange during an unofficial visit to the campus Tuesday. You can credit Tim Lester, who was the main point of contact, with getting Culpepper excited about SU and making the move.
Culpepper is rated three stars by 24/7, ESPN, Rivals and Scout. Scout has him as the sixth-best quarterback out of Florida, 24/7 says he's the 26-best pro-style QB in the class, ESPN thinks he's the 17th-best QB in the class and Rivals thinks he's the 15th-best QB in the 2016 crop.
Depending on who you ask, Culpepper had offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and more. So just going by the company you keep, it's a huge get for the Orange. Especially when you consider that he'll be coming to SU as part of the same backfield that will include RB Robert Washington.
...
2015 SU Football Predictions: Who Will Be the Orange's MVP? (PS; Staff)
Over a span of five weekdays, Syracuse football beat writers Stephen Bailey and Nate Mink will take a look ahead to next season. Topics will include the Orange's new offensive system, an incredibly inexperienced defense, head coach Scott Shafer's job security, SU's overall record and team superlatives.
Today, we'll run the gamut of team superlatives for the 2015 season. Honors include Team MVP, top newcomer and most improved on each side of the ball. Here's where Stephen and Nate stand:
Bailey:
MVP: QB Terrel Hunt
Top newcomer: S Marquise Blair (assuming he qualifies)
Most improved (o): Hybrid Ashton Broyld
Most improved (d) CB Julian Whigham
Leading rusher: Hybrid Erv Philips
Leading receiver: WR Steve Ishmael
Leading tackler: MLB Zaire Franklin
Mink:
MVP: QB Terrel Hunt
Newcomer: DT Chris Slayton
Most improved (o): WR Alvin Cornelius
Most improved (d) DT John Raymon
Leading rusher: RB Devante McFarlane
Leading receiver: WR Steve Ishmael
Leading tackler: MLB Zaire Franklin
...
2015 SU Football Opponent Preview: Wake Forest (sujuiceonline.com; Cheng)
As we countdown to kickoff in September, we’re going to be doing a team-by-team preview each Wednesday over the summer. SU will open its 2015 ACC schedule when they play Wake Forest on Sept. 12.
O-LINE STRUGGLES: Dave Clawson’s first season as head coach of Wake Forest was predictably a struggle, with the team finishing 3-9 and 1-7 in the ACC. The Deacons gutted out an ugly 6-3 win in double overtime against the Hokies in their penultimate game, which showed that while Wake Forest didn’t necessarily have the talent to compete in the ACC, they played hard for their first year coach. Much of the struggles came from a historically bad offensive unit that was 127th in the NCAA in both points (14.8) and rushing yards (39.9) per game. The Demon Deacons offensive line was the main culprit, giving up an unfathomable 48 sacks.
» Related: Previewing SU’s opener against Rhode Island
WHO TO WATCH FOR: Wake Forest’s O-line will need to replace two spots this offseason including Cory Helms, who transferred to South Carolina in January. If Wake’s spring game was any glimpse into the running game in 2015, there’s plenty to be concerned about. Eight different players combined for 50 carries at just 74 net yards. The team’s two top returning rushers, Dezmond Wortham (13 rushes for 51 yards) and Isaiah Robinson (6 rushes for 11 yards) didn’t seem particularly impressive. But Clawson took a different view of the statistics. “If you look at how we run the ball, we’re clearly better from a year ago. How many plays last year didn’t even get back to the line of scrimmage?” he said after the spring game. “Are we ripping off 12, 15, and 20 yard runs? No, but everything’s getting back to the line of scrimmage and getting positive yards.”
PREDICTION: Syracuse’s only conference win came against the Deacons in a convincing 30-7 win. The margin will likely be significantly closer this year, but if Wake Forest continues to struggle protecting its quarterback and setting up the rush, then look for another Syracuse win. SYRACUSE 17, WAKE FOREST 10.
Three Orange Players On Athlon's All-ACC Teams (TNIAAM; Keeley)
know by now not to put too much stock in anything Athlon says when it comes to preseason analysis, but, they've put out their Preseason All-ACC Team and we're required to mention how many Syracuse Orange players got their due. Considering they see Syracuse as the worst team in the ACC headed into 2015, it's not a huge surprise to find their four all-conference squads lacking in Orange.
Still, three players did mention to make the cut. All-World punterRiley Dixon is the highest-rated Syracuse player of all, representing us on the Third-Team. Seems a bit low for a Heisman candidate, but, at least he was properly noted as the best SU player there is (and therefore should wear No. 44 if a committee deems such a thing possible).
As for position players, Athlon doesn't think much of our skills position guys and instead focused on our linemen. Offensive tackleIvan Foy and defensive end Ron Thompson both received Fourth-Team nods. Foy hopes to carry on the recent tradition of That One Syracuse Lineman Who Is Really Good And Parlays That Success Into An NFL Gig while Thompson is looking to make good on the hype that originally brought him to SU as a four-star tight end.
Syracuse far and away had the least number of players across all four All-ACC squads with Pittsburgh and Wake Forest checking in next-lowest at six apiece.
Any Syracuse players you think at least deserved a look at fourth-team? Or do you not care in the least because what does it matter?
