Syracuse Football’s Eric Dungey is considered a star around these parts. But what makes fans think this? We break down why he’s so good (when he’s healthy).
The Syracuse Football team has a heck of a quarterback in Eric Dungey. The kid can flat out play, and is smart with the football. His one flaw: he can’t seem to stay healthy. Concussions have caused him to miss part of the last two seasons.
His record at Syracuse is 8-10, according to FoxSports.com, if you include the unofficial start (Terrel Hunt’s Achilles injury) against Rhode Island in 2015 that jump started his career. Although his overall record doesn’t scream ‘star’ player, his numbers in those games have been great throughout.
Don’t believe me or you just need evidence? Check out these ACC Conference ranks (as of the end of last year) from Cuse.com:
ACC Ranks
- 2nd among active ACC quarterbacks in career rushing yards- 644 (now 695)
- 2nd among active ACC quarterbacks in career rushing touchdowns- 11 (now 13)
- 3rd among active ACC quarterbacks in career passing yards- 3,977 (now 4,305)
- 3rd among active ACC quarterbacks in career passing touchdowns- 26 (now 29)
- Stands 3rd among active quarterbacks in the ACC in career total offensive yardage- 4,621 yards (now 5,000)
Still not convinced? Check out Dungey’s Syracuse Football statistical ranks (updated to Game 1 of this year), courtesy of Cuse.com. Keep in mind he achieved these ranks and statistics in ONLY 18 career games and 17 starts!
Syracuse Ranks
- 1st all-time (tied with Ryan Nassib) at Syracuse in career 300-yard passing games- 7
- 1st all-time at Syracuse in career passing yards per game- 239.2 yards
- Is 1st all-time at Syracuse in Total Offense per game- 277.8 yards
- 2nd all-time at Syracuse in completion percentage- 64%
- 6th all-time at Syracuse in Passing touchdowns- 29
- 7th all-time at Syracuse in Touchdowns responsible for- 42
- 8th all-time at Syracuse in career Passing yards- 4,305
- In 7 of his 17 starts he has accounted for at least three touchdowns
On top of all these figures Dungey is a genuinely nice guy. He works hard and it shows on the field. Additionally, he is humble and considers his teammates and what came before him, before ever honoring himself. That’s just the type of leader you love leading any ball club. For instance, check out what he said to reporters, according to Cuse.com, after tying Ryan Nassib’s record for 300 yard passing games on Friday:
"“It’s awesome. I have nothing but respect for Ryan Nassib. His picture is in the weight room, so I’m always looking up at that. It’s kind of some motivation and he’s a great guy.”"
Now, it’s nice to have a great teammate and statistical star on your team and all, but let’s look into what makes him truly special, and what he has improved on since Day 1 at Syracuse.
4. The Handoff
This is the best part of his game in my opinion. Shocked? Maybe you thought his running or passing ability would’ve been the skill I liked the most. However, for me, his ability to handoff the ball (or fake the handoff, as the case may be) is what makes him truly special.
Think about how many pro quarterbacks are truly great at this. Not many. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a Colts fans, but Peyton Manning was one of the best at this in my opinion.
Breakdown:
In this play Manning fakes the handoff by tucking it deep in the running backs arms. Next, he pulls out and has the defender swallow up the running back while he pulls back for a long wide-open pass to a wide receiver Austin Collie.
In this play, it gives Manning options. he could hand it off, he could fake the handoff and pass, or he could fake the handoff and run a bootleg run himself. If he sucessfully fools the defenders that he has handed the ball off then most times its a big play for the offense. In this case it was.
Not a lot of quarterbacks can fake a handoff well, and most times defenders see the fake hand coming because its not convincing enough. However, if you run it really well it pays dividends.
Another future Hall-of-Famer, current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is also a master of this handoff. He fakes the handoff so well, especially on the play below, that no one knows who has the ball.
Joshua Perkins' first career TD was a BEAUTY. #ATLvsCAR https://t.co/knzfcKSIhD
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 24, 2016
Dungey does this play just as well, if not better, than either of these future hall of fame quarterbacks. He made a show of it against Central Connecticut State this past weekend, running it time and time again.
Breakdown:
In these videos you’ll see the first touchdown of the season for the Orange is by Dungey, he fakes the handoff to the running back, keeps the ball and runs it around for a score.
Next, he fakes a handoff to the running back and throws it long for Jamal Custis. Each time the defense collapses on the runner because they assume he has it because Dungey sold it so well.
Lastly you’ll see Dungey fake it really well once again, this time to run in for the score untouched. Nobody sees it coming because the defense has to respect the fact that he can pass.
Now I get it’s an inferior opponent but he’s done this play against ranked ACC opponents as well and its been effective. So Dungey’s handoff is one thing that really sends his game to the next level.
3. Passing IQ
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Eric Dungey is great at reading plays. Most times his reads are pretty accurate. If his first option isn’t open he quickly looks for the second and third option to see if there’s a window. If there’s not, he knows he has the ability to make a play with is feet.
His passing IQ (or field smarts) has led him to be one of the best in Syracuse history. He is 2nd all-time at Syracuse in completion percentage. Heck in his first game of the season, against the lowly Blue Devils of CCSU, he had a 77.8% completion percentage.
Naturally you must be thinking he only passed it ten times though right? Nope. He passed it 36 times and completed it 28 times. In addition, he had 328 yards passing and three passing touchdowns.
Additionally, he doesn’t throw picks often. He has 567 pass attempts so far in his career and only 12 picks! That’s a interception rate of 2%. So when I say he knows how to throw the rock, he truly does.
2. Running Ability
You knew this was coming. Dungey is known for making plays with his feet. Some analysts and fans argue he does so too much. They say he is too valuable a player in Syracuse’s offense not to be on the field and in the huddle. I agree with them, to a point.
In the past, Dungey was reckless in how he absorbed tackles. He didn’t slide often after a run and he would take hard hits, especially in the upper body and head. Check out this play against Central Michigan two years ago. It’s hard to watch.
Last year, Dungey made a better effort of getting out of the way of big hits, but yet another one ended his season. This one is not really his fault against Clemson. He probably could have slid sooner, but the hit to the head (on both sides) was unnecessary by Clemson. Some called it a routine play, but I think it was targeting, but hey, that’s why I’m not a ref.
So far this year, he has been smarter running the football. He’s still making big running plays with his feet, but he did have one really scary moment against CCSU. He took a tumble over a defender at the end of a run that made fans and probably Head Coach Dino Babers grimace.
Overall, in the two games thus far, Dungey seems a much more mature quarterback both passing and running the ball. Everyone knows he’s great at doing both, it’s just a matter of being smarter about it and avoiding big hits and injury.
1. Heart & Passion for the Game
Eric Dungey always has a smile on face. When he scores, he screams in excitement. He loves the game he plays, no matter how much he gets injured. Dungey gives 110 percent every time he’s out there, and when he makes a mistake, it frustrates him.
Number two in Orange has a heart and passion for the game that I don’t see in a lot of players nowadays. He reminds me of playing street football with your friends, or a game of wiffleball in the backyard. It’s a pride thing and a competitive thing all wrapped in one. You want to win and you want to have fun doing it. You give everything you got out there in hopes you can win. that’s what I see from Dungey.
More from Syracuse Football
- Syracuse Football: Cuse boils Purdue, turns attention to Army on Saturday
- Syracuse football only team in country with top-5 scoring offense, defense
- Syracuse Orange: Looking at On3 NIL Valuations of top-five ‘Cuse players
- Syracuse Football: Alumnus Noah Eagle to call Purdue game, that’s dope
- Syracuse Orange: Head of Orange United ready to ‘vie for championships’
I’m sure he hates sitting on the sideline due to injury and I think loves just playing football with this group of guys. He is always praising his teammates in interviews, and how much fun he has with them.
I mean why else would a kid from Oregon, way across the country come and play on the east coast in Syracuse, NY? I get that Syracuse was one of the few who gave him a chance, but still. He came because he wanted to show what he’s got and put everything on the line. Those are the types of players that usually go on to do great things. Hopefully the same holds true for Eric Dungey.
Next: Syracuse Football: Top 5 bittersweet oranges from loss to MTSU
So what makes Eric Dungey so special? A lot. Its not just one thing. He is a player with a great attitude and love for the game. That along with some great skills make him one of the best players in the ACC if not the country. Hopefully this is the year he truly gets a chance to show that.