sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 26,689
- Like
- 116,388
Recruiting
SU Beats Nebraska and Rutgers for Ohio LB Troy Henderson (PS; Bailey)
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) High School linebacker Troy Henderson verbally committed to Syracuse Tuesday night, he announced on Twitter. Henderson chose the Orange over other finalists Rutgers and Nebraska.
T-Hen @_Troy3
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I went from riding the bus for years and now I can choose the bus I ride on. I have decided to take my path to The University of Syrcause!
7:33 PM - 15 Jul 2014 Cleveland, OH, United States
Henderson, who visited SU during its annual spring game, becomes the 25th member of Syracuse's Class of 2015, including 2014 holdovers Treevon Prater and Lamar Dawson, and a silent verbal commitment. Henderson is the third linebacker in the class, joining Shyheim Cullen and Doyle Grimes, and is rated three stars by At their request, this network is being blocked from this site., and 247Sports.com.
He is listed at 6 feet, 1 inch and 215 pounds by At their request, this network is being blocked from this site.. Hudl.com lists his 40-yard dash time at 4.61 seconds, his bench press maximum at 330 pounds and his squat maximum at 425 pounds.
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SU News
Thinner Adonis Ameen-Moore 'Looks Like a Totally Different Person' (PS; Bailey)
Senior running back Adonis Ameen-Moore was one of the pleasant surprises for Syracuse this spring.
Once the ball-carrier in Doug Marrone's 'Tank' package two seasons ago, the former fullback is looking to become an impact player again after being relegated to fifth-string last season.
Since pushing the scales to 260 pounds roughly a year ago, Ameen-Moore has steadily lowered that number while maintaining his powerful, downhill running style, according to SU running backs coach DeAndre Smith.
"He actually looks like a totally different person," Smith said in an interview on Tuesday.
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Steve Ishmael
Cam Lynch Names Zaire Franklin and Steve Ishmael as Likely Breakout True Freshmen (PS; Carlson)
Syracuse brought in 11 true freshmen on scholarship before Scott Shafer's first season as head coach, with four emerging to make an impact in their initial seasons.
One was Brisly Estime, a wide receiver who emerged as the year went on and starts this year as one of the primary sources of offensive optimism. Another was Marqez Hodge, a special teams contributor who earned time as a backup and now segues into a starting role at middle linebacker.
When asked which true freshmen had a chance to do the same this year, veteran linebacker and team leader Cam Lynch tabbed players from the same positions.
Based on what he's seen in preseason workouts, Lynch tabbed Zaire Franklin and Steve Ishmael as the two new faces most likely to contribute to the Orange as true freshmen and emerge as the next Hodge and Estime.
Neither should be a surprise, but Ishmael's early impression is especially noteworthy since he underwent surgery for a torn meniscus after his high school season.
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Clay Cleveland (31)
Clay Cleveland to Move From FB to TE (PS; Bailey)
In a move that would likely go unnoticed by most Syracuse fans, Clay Cleveland has shifted from fullback to tight end, SU running backs coach DeAndre Smith said in an interview on Tuesday.
On the field, this means very little for Cleveland, who will continue to line up in the same place for most of his sets. Off the field, it means Cleveland will watch film and train with a different unit.
"Clay is really the fullback for us, but we're going to move him into the tight end room, give him a little bit more work there, which he's excited about," Smith said.
Previously, Cleveland worked under Smith with the running backs. Now, with Bobby Acosta entering his first season as SU's tight ends coach, the highly touted New Jersey recruiter have one more player to mentor.
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SU Football 2014 Position Preview: Offensive Line (TNIAAM; Cassillo)
Last year's success was due to a variety of players, but perhaps no group was more responsible for it than Syracuse's experienced, durable offensive line, which started all 13 games together. While Macky MacPherson is now off to the NFL, the rest of the team's strong line remains -- meaning this group could very well be a strength once again, even without its standout center.
Sean got us up-to-date on the state of the starting O-line yesterday, but let's consider this a bit of a deeper dive. From our clear starters, to our walk-ons, we're taking stock of every single offensive lineman on the Syacuse roster. Because in case you needed yet another reminder: We're only 45 (!!!) days away from football season...
Centers
John Miller, Senior: Miller's a force at 6'2" and 305 pounds, and after grabbing the starting center spot in spring ball, it doesn't appear that he's letting go any time soon. The JUCO transfer is a smart, cerebral guy who completely understands every aspect of the position (much like Macky, if you want to project out a bit). He's also upped his game in the weight room since arriving on campus, with Will Hicks claiming he's now in the upper echelon of our O-linemen in terms of lifting and conditioning. Tough to find better things said about your starting-center-to-be, no?
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ACC News
Jameis Winston
ACC Countdown to 2014 Season: FSU Seeks National Title Repeat (PS; Stevens)
2013 record: 14-0 (8-0 ACC)
2013 postseason: Beat Auburn in the BCS title game
Last season without a bowl appearance:1981
Coach: Jimbo Fisher (45-10 in four seasons at Florida State)
Coordinators: Lawrence Dawsey (co-offense, 1st year), Randy Sanders (co-offense, 1st year), Charles Kelly (defense, 1st year)
All-conference returnees: T Cameron Erving (first team), WR Rashad Greene (first team), G Tre' Jackson (first team), QB Jameis Winston (first team), K Roberto Aguayo (second team), TE Nick O'Leary (second team), S Nate Andrews (third team), DE Mario Edwards Jr. (third team), G Josue Matias (third team), T Bobby Hart (honorable mention), LB Terrance Smith (honorable mention), CB P.J. Williams (honorable mention)
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College News
College Football Preview/Haiku Fest: Nos. 80-76 (Dave Doeren's Rebuild Continues at NC State; PS; Stevens)
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76. N.C. STATE
Dave Doeren's first season at N.C. State was the ultimate mulligan, an exercise in placing square pegs in round holes that might have worked a little better if there weren't so many injuries to contend with.
There was also the matter of going 0-4 against the other four FBS programs in North Carolina, which stood in stark contrast to the school's "Our State" marketing campaign. It was a boast the Wolfpack fell woefully short of backing up.
But that's all in the past, and the addition of quarterback Jacoby Brissett provides some hope things will be different this year. The Florida transfer is exceptionally well-suited for how Doeren wants to play, so assuming he stays healthy the offense should function better than a year ago.
With a leaky defense in place short on star power, Brissett needs to be good (the same could be said for tailback Shadrach Thornton and a bunch of receivers Doeren has already brought in over his first two recruiting classes). If they are, N.C. State could plausibly zip through its nonconference schedule, lose its first two conference games to Florida State and Clemson and still be 4-2 with its nastiest league opponents in the rear-view mirror.
But is there enough depth? Will the interior play be passable? Do the pieces in place fit what the Wolfpack wants to do? These are fairly standard-issue questions for a second-year coach in a lot of places, and they're the ones (along with whether Brissett can emerge as the program savior many fans in Raleigh would like him to be) that will determine N.C. State's success this year.
N.C. State in haiku:
Not much star power
Team Anonymous last year
Just who were those guys?
College Football Preview/Haiku Fest: Nos. 71-75 (Rutgers Likely to Struggle in B1G; PS; Stevens)
75. RUTGERS
For all the attention paid to Rutgers since it announced its move into the Big Ten, it's actually drawn less attention for football relative to other happenings in its athletic department than was initially anticipated.
That's because the Scarlet Knights have had an ugly basketball firing (Mike Rice) and an athletic director who has made headlines for the wrong reasons whenever she does make them (Julie Hermann). Plus, there's the constant drumbeat every time something wacky happens at Rutgers about why the Big Ten opted to add this particular school.
(People, the reason why the Big Ten invited Rutgers is money. It was, and is, always about money. It isn't a mystery. It isn't remotely complicated. Rutgers is located right between New York City and Philadelphia, and there are a lot of cable subscribers who weren't paying anything for the Big Ten Network who now will be paying something for it. The Big Ten will profit whether Rutgers thrives or flops).
This fall, though, there will be some attention cast toward football. Kyle Flood, the Scarlet Knights' third-year coach, could very well be coaching for his job after replacing both of his coordinators. Rutgers turned a 4-1 start into a 6-7 finish, and a four-game stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin suggests things won't be considerably easier this year.
That stretch ensures some eyeballs will be on Rutgers football. But whether it can actually take advantage of that exposure, at least this season, is a bit in doubt.
Rutgers in haiku:
A blast from the past
Ralph Friedgen added to staff
Offense in good hands
...
SU Beats Nebraska and Rutgers for Ohio LB Troy Henderson (PS; Bailey)
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) High School linebacker Troy Henderson verbally committed to Syracuse Tuesday night, he announced on Twitter. Henderson chose the Orange over other finalists Rutgers and Nebraska.
T-Hen @_Troy3
Follow
I went from riding the bus for years and now I can choose the bus I ride on. I have decided to take my path to The University of Syrcause!
7:33 PM - 15 Jul 2014 Cleveland, OH, United States
Henderson, who visited SU during its annual spring game, becomes the 25th member of Syracuse's Class of 2015, including 2014 holdovers Treevon Prater and Lamar Dawson, and a silent verbal commitment. Henderson is the third linebacker in the class, joining Shyheim Cullen and Doyle Grimes, and is rated three stars by At their request, this network is being blocked from this site., and 247Sports.com.
He is listed at 6 feet, 1 inch and 215 pounds by At their request, this network is being blocked from this site.. Hudl.com lists his 40-yard dash time at 4.61 seconds, his bench press maximum at 330 pounds and his squat maximum at 425 pounds.
...
SU News
Thinner Adonis Ameen-Moore 'Looks Like a Totally Different Person' (PS; Bailey)
Senior running back Adonis Ameen-Moore was one of the pleasant surprises for Syracuse this spring.
Once the ball-carrier in Doug Marrone's 'Tank' package two seasons ago, the former fullback is looking to become an impact player again after being relegated to fifth-string last season.
Since pushing the scales to 260 pounds roughly a year ago, Ameen-Moore has steadily lowered that number while maintaining his powerful, downhill running style, according to SU running backs coach DeAndre Smith.
"He actually looks like a totally different person," Smith said in an interview on Tuesday.
...
Steve Ishmael
Cam Lynch Names Zaire Franklin and Steve Ishmael as Likely Breakout True Freshmen (PS; Carlson)
Syracuse brought in 11 true freshmen on scholarship before Scott Shafer's first season as head coach, with four emerging to make an impact in their initial seasons.
One was Brisly Estime, a wide receiver who emerged as the year went on and starts this year as one of the primary sources of offensive optimism. Another was Marqez Hodge, a special teams contributor who earned time as a backup and now segues into a starting role at middle linebacker.
When asked which true freshmen had a chance to do the same this year, veteran linebacker and team leader Cam Lynch tabbed players from the same positions.
Based on what he's seen in preseason workouts, Lynch tabbed Zaire Franklin and Steve Ishmael as the two new faces most likely to contribute to the Orange as true freshmen and emerge as the next Hodge and Estime.
Neither should be a surprise, but Ishmael's early impression is especially noteworthy since he underwent surgery for a torn meniscus after his high school season.
...
Clay Cleveland (31)
Clay Cleveland to Move From FB to TE (PS; Bailey)
In a move that would likely go unnoticed by most Syracuse fans, Clay Cleveland has shifted from fullback to tight end, SU running backs coach DeAndre Smith said in an interview on Tuesday.
On the field, this means very little for Cleveland, who will continue to line up in the same place for most of his sets. Off the field, it means Cleveland will watch film and train with a different unit.
"Clay is really the fullback for us, but we're going to move him into the tight end room, give him a little bit more work there, which he's excited about," Smith said.
Previously, Cleveland worked under Smith with the running backs. Now, with Bobby Acosta entering his first season as SU's tight ends coach, the highly touted New Jersey recruiter have one more player to mentor.
...
SU Football 2014 Position Preview: Offensive Line (TNIAAM; Cassillo)
Last year's success was due to a variety of players, but perhaps no group was more responsible for it than Syracuse's experienced, durable offensive line, which started all 13 games together. While Macky MacPherson is now off to the NFL, the rest of the team's strong line remains -- meaning this group could very well be a strength once again, even without its standout center.
Sean got us up-to-date on the state of the starting O-line yesterday, but let's consider this a bit of a deeper dive. From our clear starters, to our walk-ons, we're taking stock of every single offensive lineman on the Syacuse roster. Because in case you needed yet another reminder: We're only 45 (!!!) days away from football season...
Centers
John Miller, Senior: Miller's a force at 6'2" and 305 pounds, and after grabbing the starting center spot in spring ball, it doesn't appear that he's letting go any time soon. The JUCO transfer is a smart, cerebral guy who completely understands every aspect of the position (much like Macky, if you want to project out a bit). He's also upped his game in the weight room since arriving on campus, with Will Hicks claiming he's now in the upper echelon of our O-linemen in terms of lifting and conditioning. Tough to find better things said about your starting-center-to-be, no?
...
ACC News
Jameis Winston
ACC Countdown to 2014 Season: FSU Seeks National Title Repeat (PS; Stevens)
2013 record: 14-0 (8-0 ACC)
2013 postseason: Beat Auburn in the BCS title game
Last season without a bowl appearance:1981
Coach: Jimbo Fisher (45-10 in four seasons at Florida State)
Coordinators: Lawrence Dawsey (co-offense, 1st year), Randy Sanders (co-offense, 1st year), Charles Kelly (defense, 1st year)
All-conference returnees: T Cameron Erving (first team), WR Rashad Greene (first team), G Tre' Jackson (first team), QB Jameis Winston (first team), K Roberto Aguayo (second team), TE Nick O'Leary (second team), S Nate Andrews (third team), DE Mario Edwards Jr. (third team), G Josue Matias (third team), T Bobby Hart (honorable mention), LB Terrance Smith (honorable mention), CB P.J. Williams (honorable mention)
...
College News
College Football Preview/Haiku Fest: Nos. 80-76 (Dave Doeren's Rebuild Continues at NC State; PS; Stevens)
...
76. N.C. STATE
Dave Doeren's first season at N.C. State was the ultimate mulligan, an exercise in placing square pegs in round holes that might have worked a little better if there weren't so many injuries to contend with.
There was also the matter of going 0-4 against the other four FBS programs in North Carolina, which stood in stark contrast to the school's "Our State" marketing campaign. It was a boast the Wolfpack fell woefully short of backing up.
But that's all in the past, and the addition of quarterback Jacoby Brissett provides some hope things will be different this year. The Florida transfer is exceptionally well-suited for how Doeren wants to play, so assuming he stays healthy the offense should function better than a year ago.
With a leaky defense in place short on star power, Brissett needs to be good (the same could be said for tailback Shadrach Thornton and a bunch of receivers Doeren has already brought in over his first two recruiting classes). If they are, N.C. State could plausibly zip through its nonconference schedule, lose its first two conference games to Florida State and Clemson and still be 4-2 with its nastiest league opponents in the rear-view mirror.
But is there enough depth? Will the interior play be passable? Do the pieces in place fit what the Wolfpack wants to do? These are fairly standard-issue questions for a second-year coach in a lot of places, and they're the ones (along with whether Brissett can emerge as the program savior many fans in Raleigh would like him to be) that will determine N.C. State's success this year.
N.C. State in haiku:
Not much star power
Team Anonymous last year
Just who were those guys?
College Football Preview/Haiku Fest: Nos. 71-75 (Rutgers Likely to Struggle in B1G; PS; Stevens)
75. RUTGERS
For all the attention paid to Rutgers since it announced its move into the Big Ten, it's actually drawn less attention for football relative to other happenings in its athletic department than was initially anticipated.
That's because the Scarlet Knights have had an ugly basketball firing (Mike Rice) and an athletic director who has made headlines for the wrong reasons whenever she does make them (Julie Hermann). Plus, there's the constant drumbeat every time something wacky happens at Rutgers about why the Big Ten opted to add this particular school.
(People, the reason why the Big Ten invited Rutgers is money. It was, and is, always about money. It isn't a mystery. It isn't remotely complicated. Rutgers is located right between New York City and Philadelphia, and there are a lot of cable subscribers who weren't paying anything for the Big Ten Network who now will be paying something for it. The Big Ten will profit whether Rutgers thrives or flops).
This fall, though, there will be some attention cast toward football. Kyle Flood, the Scarlet Knights' third-year coach, could very well be coaching for his job after replacing both of his coordinators. Rutgers turned a 4-1 start into a 6-7 finish, and a four-game stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin suggests things won't be considerably easier this year.
That stretch ensures some eyeballs will be on Rutgers football. But whether it can actually take advantage of that exposure, at least this season, is a bit in doubt.
Rutgers in haiku:
A blast from the past
Ralph Friedgen added to staff
Offense in good hands
...
