Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="CuseLegacy, post: 2004597, member: 469"] By [URL='http://connect.syracuse.com/staff/stephenbailey/posts.html'][U] Stephen Bailey | sbailey@syracuse.com [/U][/URL] The Post-Standard on December 20, 2016 at 1:03 PM Syracuse, N.Y. -- Anyone who listened closely to Dino Babers throughout his first year at the helm of the Syracuse football program knows what he means when he brings up "the numbers." The Orange didn't have the depth Babers would have liked to support its first team and the results showed in injuries, fatigue and ultimately a 4-8 record. Since the end of the season, SU has worked to reshape its roster by parting ways with players who, for the most part, don't fit the new systems and bringing in experienced players who do. Let's recap the attrition and addition, both of which are likely not over, before taking a look at what else could happen over the next couple months: [SIZE=5][B]Attrition[/B][/SIZE] Ten players who have eligibility left are no longer with the program. Only one, redshirt junior cornerback [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_cornerback_corey_winfield_explains_why_hes_leaving_program.html'][U]Corey Winfield[/U][/URL], was a significant contributor last season. Four other redshirt juniors, quarterback [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/former_syracuse_football_qb_austin_wilson_transferring_to_coastal_carolina.html'][U]Austin Wilson[/U][/URL] (Coastal Carolina transfer), linebacker [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_linebacker_alryk_perry_announces_hell_transfer.html'][U]Alryk Perry[/U][/URL] (Valdosta State) safety [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_safety_chauncey_scissum_will_transfer.html'][U]Chauncey Scissum[/U][/URL] and offensive lineman Jon Burton, will not return for their final year of eligibility. Three more departures were second-year players valued more highly by the previous staff: defensive tackle [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/former_syracuse_football_defensive_tackle_anthony_giudice_will_transfer_to_fordh.html'][U]Anthony Giudice[/U][/URL] (Fordham), running back [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_rb_jordan_fredericks_will_transfer.html'][U]Jordan Fredericks[/U],[/URL] defensive tackle [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/defensive_tackle_tyler_cross_announces_hell_transfer_from_syracuse_becoming_sixt.html'][U]Tyler Cross[/U][/URL] and quarterback-turned-wide receiver [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/11/syracuse_football_wr_kenterius_womack_says_he_is_transferring.html'][U]Kenterius Womack[/U][/URL]. Junior tight end [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/1_recent_syracuse_football_transfer_has_found_a_new_home.html'][U]Trey Dunkelberger[/U][/URL] (Western Illinois) is the final player who has left thus far. [SIZE=5][B]Additions[/B][/SIZE] The Orange has two junior college signees ([URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_recruiting_juco_tight_end_ravian_pierce_commits.html'][U]TE Ravian Pierce[/U][/URL] and [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_recruiting_orange_signs_juco_linebacker.html'][U]LB Ryan Guthrie[/U][/URL]) and 20 players pledged to its Class of 2017. Notre Dame graduate transfer defensive back Devin Butler recently [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_adds_ex-notre_dame_cb_devin_butler.html'][U]announced his intentions to play his final season at SU[/U][/URL]. Junior college defensive end Brandon Berry also plans to sign with the Orange, though he said the coaching staff has [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/juco_de_brandon_berry_will_join_syracuse_football.html'][U]asked him to wait until his official visit[/U][/URL] the weekend of Jan. 27 to officially commit. Here's a quick breakdown of the 20 high school players committed to the class. Linebacker Nadarius Fagan and offensive lineman Patrick Davis (per CuseNation.com) plan to enroll in January. [SIZE=3][B]2017 commitments[/B][/SIZE] [B]Name (Pos) star rating[/B] [B]Ht./Wt.[/B] [B]School[/B] [B]Notable offers[/B] [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/04/tommy_devito_quarterback_syracuse_football_recrutiing.html'][U]Tommy DeVito (QB)[/U][/URL] 6-1 1/2/190 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) Syracuse, Boston College, Maryland, Rutgers [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/04/syracuse_football_recruiting_wr_sharod_johnson_commits_to_orange.html'][U]Sharod Johnson (WR)[/U][/URL] 5-11/174 Booker T. Washington (Miami) Syracuse, Purdue, Illinois, UCF [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/05/syracuse_football_recruiting_linebacker_zach_morton_commits_to_su.html'][U]Zach Morton (DE/LB)[/U][/URL] 6-4/222 Cass Tech (Detroit) Syracuse, Bowling Green, Iowa State, Cincinnati [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/06/syracuse_football_recruiting_linebacker_tyrell_richards_commits.html'][U]Tyrell Richards (LB)[/U][/URL] No rating 6-3/225 Central Peel Secondary School (Brampton, Ontario) Syracuse [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/06/syracuse_footballs_speedy_new_recruit_nykeim_johnson_i_could_do_great_in_the_off.html'][U]Nykeim Johnson (WR)[/U][/URL] 5-9/167 Friendship Academy (Washington, D.C.) Syracuse, Virginia, Charlotte, [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/06/syracuse_football_recruiting_wr_josh_palmer_commits.html'][U]Josh Palmer (WR)[/U][/URL] 6-3/190 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Syracuse, Illinois,Louisville, Maryland [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/06/syracuse_football_recruiting_ol_dakota_davis_commits.html'][U]Dakota Davis (OL)[/U][/URL] 6-5/310 Glenelg High School (Glenelg, Md.) Syracuse, Connecticut, Air Force [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/06/2017_ath_eric_coley_commits_to_syracuse_football_son_of_su_assistant_vinson_reyn.html#incart_river_index'][U]Eric Coley (DB/WR)[/U][/URL] 6-1/185 Fayetteville-Manlius High School (Manlius, N.Y.) Syracuse, Boston College, Rutgers [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/06/syracuse_football_wr_commit_cameron_jordan_sold_on_explosive_hurry-up_offense.html#incart_river_index'][U]Cameron Jordan (WR)[/U][/URL] 6-4/187 Half Hollow Hills High School West (Huntington Station, N.Y.) Syracuse [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/06/syracuse_football_offered_unique_opportunity_for_3-star_michigan_ath_allen_strit.html#incart_river_index'][U]Allen Stritzinger (RB)[/U][/URL] 6-0/184 De La Salle Collegiate High School (Warren, Mich.) Syracuse, Michigan, Bowling Green, Cincinnati [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/07/2017_massachusetts_db_ifeatu_melifonwu_commits_to_syracuse_football.html#incart_river_index'][U]Ifeatu Melifonwu (DB)[/U][/URL] 6-3/185 Grafton Memorial High School (Grafton, Mass.) Syracuse, Boston College, Connecticut, UMass [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/07/syracuse_football_recruiting_ohio_olbs_kadeem_trotter_commits_to_su.html#incart_river_index'][U]Kadeem Trotter (S/LB)[/U][/URL] 6-3/196 Canton McKinley High School (Canton, Ohio) Syracuse, Iowa State, Bowling Green, Toledo [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/07/syracuse_football_recruiting_wr_russell_thompson-bishop_commits_to_orange.html'][U]Russell Thompson-Bishop (WR)[/U][/URL] 6-2/198 Bloomfield High School (Bloomfield, Conn.) Syracuse, Boston College, Navy, Connecticut, Temple [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/07/3-star_miami_lb_nadarius_fagan_commits_to_syracuse_football_over_lsu_alabama.html'][U]Nadarius Fagan (LB)[/U][/URL] 6-2/200 Miami Southridge High School (Miami, Fla.) Syracuse, LSU, Nebraska, USC, Louisville, Alabama [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/07/syracuse_football_te_commit_aaron_hackett_sold_on_facilities_fit_in_offense.html'][U]Aaron Hackett (TE)[/U][/URL] 6-3/225 Venice High School (Venice, Fla.) Syracuse, South Florida, Louisville, Minnesota [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/08/2017_pennsylvania_defensive_tackle_curtis_harper_commits_to_syracuse_football.html'][U]Curtis Harper (DT)[/U][/URL] 6-2/291 McKeesport Area High School (McKeesport, Penn.) Syracuse, Maryland, Wake Forest, Boston College [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/08/syracuse_football_recruiting_canadian_ol_patrick_davis_commits_to_su.html'][U]Patrick Davis (OL) [/U][/URL] No rating 6-5/297 Champlain Regional College (Lennoxville, Quebec) Syracuse [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangesports/index.ssf/2016/09/syracuse_adds_to_defensive_line_depth_by_landing_verbal_commitment_from_3-star_j.html'][U]Jonathan Kingsley (DE)[/U][/URL] 6-4/220 Eastern Alamance High School (Melbane, N.C.) Syracuse, Florida State, Louisville, South Carolina [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/11/how_syracuse_football_landed_rb_markenzy_pierre_floridas_2500-yard_man.html'][U]Markenzy Pierre (RB)[/U][/URL] 5-11/205 Liberty High School (Kissimmee, Fla.) Syracuse, Western Kentucky, FIU, Appalachian State [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/10/syracuse_football_recruiting_3-star_florida_rb_bj_daniels_commits_to_su_report.html'][U]B.J. Daniels (RB)[/U][/URL] 6-2/207 Palm Bay Senior High School (Melbourne, Fla.) Syracuse, Maryland, USF, Colorado State [SIZE=5][B]What's to come?[/B][/SIZE] Currently, the Orange has 56 scholarship players slated to return for next season. That includes two redshirt juniors in offensive lineman Jamar McGloster and inside receiver Sean Avant. Don't be surprised if another name or two drops from the list. However, while that would allow Syracuse to bring in 30-plus new players to stay under the 85 cap, another rule may prevent the program from taking quite that many. Each Football Bowl Subdivision program is allowed to bring in 25 new players each year, and teams can bolster that number by counting January additions toward the previous year's total. The Orange signed 19 players who ultimately enrolled last season; guys who didn't make it like running back Jo-El Shaw or defensive backs Michael Moore and James Pierre do not count. SU also added two graduate transfers in wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo and defensive end De'Jon Wilson. So, by my unofficial count, that leaves four slots to backdate players in January and a total cap of 29 players that can be added this year. Additional players would count toward 2017. In addition to Fagan and Davis, Pierce, Guthrie and Butler all plan to enroll early. With 23 players in hand and another eager to join, here are a couple updates on players who could help round out that group: [B]OL Alex Palczewski[/B]: The Orange initially contacted this three-star prospect from Illinois only three weeks ago, but [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/syracuse_football_recruiting_2017_illinois_ol_alex_palczewski_visiting_3_schools.html'][U]Palczewski will visit Jan. 15-17[/U][/URL]. The 6-foot-7, 270-pound prospect is also considering Vanderbilt and Illinois. [B]DB Brian Edwards[/B]: A long, rangy safety from Florida, Edwards had [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2016/12/3-star_florida_db_brian_edwards_sets_official_visit_to_syracuse_football_loving.html'][U]planned to visit SU on Jan. 20[/U][/URL]. However, after receiving an Oregon offer, he is in the process of reshaping his visit schedule. Edwards is also being pursued by Florida, Colorado and Miami, among others. How the Orange chooses to fill out the rest of its 2017 class will be interesting to see. The defensive line seems like an area of need still. The staff could also decide to push for a kicker like Georgia Tech commit Joseph Bulovas, who holds an SU offer. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?