My 2018 SU football preview - the Offense

[SUFan44]

Can anyone remember a football player who actually played here and went on to a successful career somewhere else after transferring? I can think of them in basketball but not in football.

There aren't many, that's for sure.

 

[SmilinBob]

Dontez Ford had a decent career at Pitt after transferring

Also wasn't there a flanker/wr that was a bit undersized but quick that transferred from Marrone's first year that began with an and his dad often posted here? He had a nice career though at a smaller school.

 

[CuseCrew08]

Also wasn't there a flanker/wr that was a bit undersized but quick that transferred from Marrone's first year that began with an and his dad often posted here? He had a nice career though at a smaller school.

Trey Fairchild?

 

[billsin01]

What I’d like to see this year is to have 4-5 receivers with 50-60 catches and maybe a couple more with 30-40. And use the whole field, not just the sideline. I recall Ryan Nassib throwing over the middle to Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales in 2012 and really carving up the defense. I also recall the opposing quarterbacks carving us up over the middle, too. Make them cover everyone and the whole field and hit them in the gaps that develop.

A key to this could be Ravian Pierce, a big time JUCO recruit last year who had an up-and-down season. If he develops into a major threat, that could re-focus our attack towards the middle of the field. You rarely see a tight end thrown to at the sideline. Pierce had 29 catches for 263 yards (9.1) and 4 scores.

Phenomenal posts, particularly because it makes mine look short by comparison. The point about using the middle of the field is a good one. I tend to think the progression you see in quarterbacks is that as they get more comfortable and more advanced in the college game, they live over the middle. Younger, less advanced QBs tend to live on the sidelines. We've seen this a ton but I remember that was the thing with Jimmy Clausen for a couple years at notre dame before he had a really solid junior season. We saw a ton of it with Nassib as well then the offense exploded as he worked the middle of the field as a senior.

WRs are a question but if Dungey is able to work the whole field, we should be a bit more dangerous as long as there are some guys who can catch passes.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

This is great stuff. I love that the best available preview of the team (anywhere) comes from this board.

 

[SWC75]

Heard a familiar name watching the Ole Miss-Texas tech game:

Dismissed by Syracuse football, DE Qaadir Sheppard in line to start at Ole Miss

Qaadir Sheppard - 2018 Football Roster - Ole Miss Athletics

 

[SWC75]

Jordan Fredericks sighting today: UMass vs. Boston College - Box Score - September 1, 2018 - ESPN

He seemed be part of tandem with Young in the spring:
Takeaways from UMass football’s annual spring game

Young and Fredericks combine for nearly 200 rushing yards

Team Maroon received strong play from its backfield. Senior Marquis Young had a couple explosive runs to bring the team into the red zone, totaling 101 yards and a touchdown on the day. Young also had one catch for 25 yards.

While Young brought the speed, redshirt junior Jordan Fredericks impressed with his power and ability to break tackles. The Syracuse transfer did not go down easy, running through the Team White defense on way to 92 yards on 15 carries.

Fredricks also got involved in the passing game, tossing a running back pass to quarterback Michael Curtis for a first down.

“I thought Jordan had a good day,” UMass coach Mark Whipple said. “Marquis broke some runs and he’s had a really good spring. Jordan tweaked his knee a little bit in camp but has shown flashes. We hadn’t tackled and he’s a big back and can make people miss. That’s why he was a good player at Syracuse as a freshman.”