Syracuse Football: Nykeim Johnson is the next great wide receiver at SU
The Syracuse football wide receiver room will be gutted after this season. ITLH breaks down who is going to step up to the plate for #OITNF.
Things haven’t started the way Syracuse football fans would’ve hoped in terms of their 4-6 record so far this season. Another thing that hasn’t quite happened the way some people thought it would is the impact of dynamic wide receiver Nykeim Johnson out of the nation’s capital.
Johnson is a smaller receiver (5’8, 163 pounds soaking wet), but has all the tools. He’s a dynamic return man and also brings Desean Jackson like big play ability to the gridiron.
While it hasn’t really happened this season, there’s hope for the future.
Head coach Dino Babers spoke about Johnson’s role this season on the team and his outlook for the future in his weekly press conference with the media:
"“Obviously when you’re playing as a freshman, you’re not going to get every single snap. Especially when you look at what we have at the position with Steve Ishmael and Erv Philips. Some of the things you guys are going to have to understand is, just because you play in this offense doesn’t mean you’re going to get 100 balls. Especially as a freshman. We’ve gotten him involved on offense recently because that game experience is critical, especially when we have massive turnover at the position in the offseason, so he can help contribute early next season.”"
We spoke with Nykeim Johnson in the offseason and spoke about why he chose the Orange, his pro player comparison, and more. You can check out that full conversation here on ITLH: Syracuse Football Recruiting Sitdown: Nykeim Johnson.
Here’s the thing, Johnson is the next great wide receiver at SU.
It’s not a matter of if, but when. If you don’t believe me, believe in track records. Head coach Dino Babers has been in Syracuse for almost two seasons. In that time frame he’s had two wide receivers who have at least finished as a semifinalist for the most outstanding wide receiver in all of college football. That’s an exclusive 10 person club for the Biletnikoff award every season.
Steve Ishmael in 2017 and Amba Etta-Tawo in 2016. Amba finished with 94 receptions, nearly 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns which was the greatest single season in SU receiving history. This is a program that has two Pro Football Hall of Famers at the position (Art Monk and Marvin Harrison), as a healthy reminder.
Ishmael is a senior and still has two games to pad his current stats: 92 receptions, 1,131 yards and 6 touchdowns, per ESPN. While he may not catch Etta-Tawo in touchdowns or yards, he’ll certainly crush his receptions mark.
Next: Syracuse Football: Floyd Little reveals an exclusive all-time list
The third year in this system will be no different. With Ishmael and Philips headed off to the NFL, someone will have to step up and take the reps as the new No. 1 wide receiver in this offense. While Johnson doesn’t have prototypical size for the position, he’s a shifty playmaker who has Philips’ traits. Look for him to take the torch next year and beyond at the wide receiver position.