Hawn started and played 1 snap, then Washington played the rest of the game:
In a week that the offensive line struggled, Byron Washington shined as Brown’s crown jewel of the unit. Washington, who was replaced for one snap as a starter by fellow freshman Matthew Hawn after showing up late to a meeting, had a pass blocking grade of 87.3. No other Syracuse offensive lineman reached the 60s in a game that saw Miami walk away with seven sacks. Washington will likely be a starter for Syracuse next season, but Brown will be looking for players to accompany him. Redshirt junior Joe Cruz and redshirt sophomore Joshua Miller have showcased their flexibility this season, which should keep them in the mix. Before the season began, Brown and offensive line coach Dale Williams described Hawn as a top-10 lineman on the Orange. Now, Syracuse is giving redshirt freshman Kam Pringle, a transfer from South Carolina, a chance to audition as a tackle. Pringle struggled in the first start of his career, but asking any freshman to play against Miami’s pass rush is a major request.
Freshman running back Tylik Hill played a season-high 11 snaps against the Hurricanes. It was his third consecutive game of seeing action, and he has flashed his speed in each one. While sophomore Yasin Willis, a between-the-tackles bruiser, has struggled behind Syracuse’s offensive line, Hill has been able to generate large gains with his quick speed from the handoff. He finished with 44 yards on eight carries as Syracuse searches for redshirt senior Will Nixon’s replacement as a change-of-pace back next season. Hill has a run grade 72.8 on 15 carries this season, averaging 59 yards per carry. He’s proving himself to be more valuable with his work as a kick returner. He’s up to 262 yards on 12 returns this season.
While senior wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons continues to be absent — he has not appeared on the ACC availability report in the last two games — Brown continues to find snaps for young receivers. With Emanuel Ross out, it was the Christian Brothers Syracuse duo of Darien Williams and Daunte Bacheyie, along with Jaylan Hornsby and Gabe Daniels earning snaps. The CBA duo was able to make two catches each. Freshman tight end Elijah Washington-Baker even saw the field, catching the first touchdown of his career on a 17-yard connection from Filardi. Brown said Washington-Baker is “next up at tight end” when Dan Villari graduates after the season.
No defender has had a more impactful snap increase than freshman cornerback Kaylib Singleton. He played 22 snaps Saturday and finished with a 72.1 defensive grade, Syracuse’s second-highest behind Deslauriers. Brown, who also serves as Syracuse’s cornerbacks coach, has his outside duo of Samuel and redshirt sophomore Chris Peal. However, Syracuse has not had a consistent presence at nickel, despite sophomore Davien Kerr leading the team in interceptions. Singleton’s snaps have increased in each of the last three games and he has improved each week. He is peaking at the right time and, if the trend continues, he’ll have his name in the competition to play next spring.
Redshirt freshman Ibn McDaniels, Kerr’s main competition at nickel last spring, made the most of his snaps against Miami. He finished with an overall grade of 71.1 on 15 snaps. But Syracuse’s biggest need is on the defensive line. Brown likes freshman Nathan Nyandoro. At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, he has a frame that many coaches would love. His tackling grade of 73.9 led all defensive tackles. Syracuse will likely have to look for outside help on the defensive line, but Nyandoro has had three strong weeks, increasing his tackling and run defense grades in each game. Syracuse’s best defender Saturday was Deslauriers. He led the way with a 74.5 grade and 70.7 in coverage. Syracuse’s linebackers have struggled in coverage this season, so his performance against a fast team like Miami in 16 coverage snaps is a welcomed sign of improvement.
