Syracuse Football: Positional grades heading into 2017 season
A+. . Linebackers. 2017. SYRACUSE ORANGE
This is clearly the strongest and deepest unit on the Syracuse football team. There’s not much argument or debate here. 13 linebackers are on the roster. Namely, Zaire Franklin who is NFL caliber talent and eventually will be in the league.
He’s an instinctive linebacker who is seemingly always at the right place at the right time. He’s clearly the heart and soul of the Orange defense. Expect him to surpass 100+ tackles for the second consecutive season.
While other names to watch: Parris Bennett at weak-side linebacker is also one of the best in the ACC. The Orange got an interesting piece in Austin Valdez who is a redshirt Senior. Where will the Orange plug him in is an intriguing question that’ll be answered Friday night in the Carrier Dome.
Other names to watch include some new faces:
- Nadarius Fagan, LB, 6’1 and 200 pounds, freshman
- Kadeem Trotter, LB, 6’2 and also 200 pounds, freshman
- Austin Valdez, LB, 6’1 and 236 pounds, redshirt senior (as we mentioned)