Call them bold predictions, call them wishful thinking, call them the ramblings of a bored sports fan who's stuck inside this weekend and looking to entertain himself - they arrive all the same.
5 Bold Predictions for 2024:
1) Syracuse has two running backs run for 800+ yards each
For the first time since Jerome Smith (1,170) and Prince-Tyson Gulley (830) both ran for over 800 yards in 2012, LeQuint Allen and Yasin Willis will accomplish that same feat. HCFB has said he wants to establish the run and dictate the line of scrimmage. Willis already physically looks like an upperclassman and shined in the spring game. The Babers era was the bell cow era - I think Fran looks to distribute touches more and Willis will be up to the task against a relatively weak schedule.
2) Kyle McCord breaks multiple single season passing records
Ryan Nassib (and the entire offence) had a special year in 2012, setting the record for yards (3,749) and passing TDs (26) - McCord will break them both this year. While Lemon, Sales, and West were a tremendous trio of receives for Nassib in 2012, none of them were guys who could take the top off or turn a dig route into a 70+ yard TD. McCord looks to have the deepest and most diverse complement of offensive weapons we've seen in decades - including guys who can bring the explosive element that the 2012 offence lacked. That 2012 offence also really didn't start clicking until halfway through the year, so Nassib left a lot of meat on the bone, statistically speaking.
3) Syracuse will have 15+ explosive plays of over 50 yards
In the last few years, we haven't eclipsed ten 50+ yard explosive plays in a single season. There are many reasons this is the case, but I think a lack of explosive athletes (duh) and a lack of depth have been the two main contributing factors. The expected emergence of Willis will allow Allen to stay more fresh and hopefully have the legs to finish off some of the long runs he's been caught on. I also expect Yazeed Haynes and Emanuel Ross to bring game breaking ability to the offence we haven't seen in quite some time. Add in a healthy Gadsden pulling coverage his way, and Kyle McCord putting balls in better spots for big yards after catch, and I expect us to see more big plays than we have in years - especially against a relatively soft schedule.
4) Syracuse has 5+ players taken in the NFL Draft
While some of the players with the most raw talent are underclassmen, we absolutely have some seniors who could hear their name called at Lambeau Field next April. I think McCord and Fadil Diggs (DE) are locks to be drafted, but I also expect Marlowe Wax (LB), Justin Barron (LB/S), and Dion Wilson Jr (DL) to be drafted. Oronde Gadsen (WR/TE) could always leave before his eligibility is up, and seniors like Alijah Clarke (S) and J'Onre Reed (C) could get their names in the mix with big senior seasons. I predict Cuse will have five or more players taken in the draft for the first time since 2006.
5) College Gameday will come to Syracuse
OK this one is definitely more wishful thinking than bold prediction, but hear me out. Georgia Tech and Stanford won't be easy games, but I expect us to be favoured at home in both of them - win both of those games and there is a good chance we are 5-0 going into NC State. Pull off that win, and we're ranked going into a bye week before we kick the pitt out of Pitt. After that, it's a home game against our former Big East rival Virginia Tech. Other than a road game against Miami, VT should be favoured in every game they play before us. Given the energy Fran has injected into the program, and how he's brought the alumni back into the fold, it's not crazy to think that a ranked, 7-0 Syracuse hosting a ranked 7-1 or 6-2 Virginia Tech would be a desirable target for ESPN and College Gameday. We also finish the season hosting another old Big East rival in Miami, but that week will be loaded with other quality games. Prediction: Gameday in Syracuse for Virginia Tech on November 2nd.
5 Timid Predictions for 2024:
1) Emanuel Ross catches 30+ passes for 400+ yards
Might be my favourite recruit in the class. I don't expect him to be a "starter" early (especially because he wasn't here for the spring), but I think he's the type of player that HCFB and Jeff Nixon (OC) will draw up plays for to get the ball in his hands a few times a game.
2) 10+ players will catch 10+ passes
As mentioned several times now, we have talent and depth like we haven't seen before - Fran is going to utilize it and get guys involved. With few exceptions, the era of the redshirt is over. If a player has talent and is physically ready, you play him in more than four games - guys want to play and will move on if they don't. At RB, Allen and Willis are locks to have 10+ receptions. Gadsden and Villari are locks to get 10+ receptions at TE, and I wouldn't be surprised if Tremble makes an impact. I think we see seven guys rotate through at WR and all go over that figure.
3) The defence will have 45+ sacks
Fadil Diggs is a bonafide NFL edge player - his presence plus the the addition of other big athletes on the D-line like Dion Wilson Jr., Michael Nwokocha, and Isaiah Hastings has changed the complexion of our defence. Add these guys to some talented players already here in Braylen Ingraham, Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff, Kevin Jobity, and Rashard Perry, and I expect this defence to get after the QB.
4) The team will average fewer than 5 penalties per game
Don't need to say much here. Penalties have been a huge issue for us - both volume of penalties and the timing of those penalties. HCFB seems to be saying and doing the right things to get this issue fixed. Averaging fewer than four penalties per game would have put a team in the top ten least penalized teams last year. Given the new schemes and amount of new players, I think that goal would be a stretch. However, I think fewer than 5 per game is a goal we can and will achieve.
5) Most of these predictions will be wrong.
That's just how it usually works.
