Syracuse Football Report Card: Who did well against NC State?
By Andrew Carey
CB. Syracuse Orange. CHRIS FREDRICK. B+.
Chris Fredrick has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Orange in an improved secondary. Last season Syracuse struggled mightily against the pass as an injured secondary was historically bad.
This season, Syracuse’s secondary has been burned from time to time, but it has only been once a game or every other game as opposed to last season when it was multiple times a game. Grad transfer’s Jordan Martin and Devin Butler have added depth and chipped in to help improve the weak link in the defense last season.
When those two transfer’s pledged to Syracuse, they were though to presumably be the starters, instead, Fredrick and fellow sophomore Scoop Bradshaw held on to those starting roles and have been much improved this year. Credit Syracuse secondary coach Nick “Swag Daddy” Monroe for the improvement.
Chris Fredrick has been one of the more improved Orange in the defensive back group. Against NC State he was primarily guarding Kelvin Harmon, a lengthy 6-foot 3 receiver, who coming into the game, had recorded 25 receptions for 284 yards and a touchdown.
Definitely held his own.
Fredrick more than held his own holding Harmon to 2 catches for 17 yards. In addition to this Fredrick recorded four tackles (two solo) and also was tied for the team lead with two pass breakups. The Georgia native did his part for a Syracuse defense that held NC State senior quarterback to just 186 yard through the air, holding him 118 yards under his season average of 304 coming into the weekend.
Just a redshirt sophomore Fredrick will be a mainstay for years to come for Syracuse. His performance this week was graded as the 3rd best among college football corner’s by Pro Football Focus. Fredrick earned a 90.4 by Pro Football Focus, a tremendous rating very impressive against a receiver of Harmon’s caliber.
Fredrick will need to continue to play well as the brunt of the ACC schedule is still ahead of Syracuse. He has an interception on the season, but great coverage will continue to do the job.