I think the answer to your question is a mixture of both SU getting better at identifying talent, and the older players not being quite up to snuff. Though if I am being honest I think it says more about the upper class men than the under. If Syracuse had a typical "Syracuse" roster, I don't know if any of last years frosh would have "forced" their way into meaningful minutes (
maybe Kennedy). That's not the end of the world - they got valuable experience and down the road I am very encouraged. But I also get the sense that the upperclassmen didn't put up much of a fight for playing time.
The current redshirt senior class was ranked really low for SU (I think 17th). I think some of it has to do with the class before them ranked very highly (though not performing up to those standards), so maybe that dissuaded top ranked kids from following it. Carlin and Fusco are the only players who really contribute and neither are starting (the whole class was redshirted, keep in mind). The current senior class was more highly rated and had some Under Armor All-Americans but the results have been mixed. Bomberry and Solomon have been, for me, the solid but not spectacular and Romano has already left. Mellen has been a standout, but maybe the only one to live up to the UAA honor.
The guys they've given lots of playing time to have looked really good, but I don't think they put up the kind of numbers that typical SU starters should be putting up. They were given lots of playing time but I don't think they ranked very highly in IL's Freshmen rankings. I don't have the end of year rankings but Brett Kennedy was the only one to make the midseason list. College Crosse did a end of year ranking and only Kennedy and Dordevic made honorable mention. So yes, I think we should be encouraged in regards to youth but I also think the current sophomores need to really step up and put up much better numbers than they did last year.
College Crosse’s 2018 All-Freshmen selections
