Syracuse Football: Top 10 players to watch out for in 2018

5. Chris Slayton

There’s only been 10 players in Syracuse football history who have recorded double digit sack seasons. 5 of those 10 were by two men (Tim Green and Dwight Freeney), consider that. But if anyone can help flip the trend that man is Chris Slayton.

He’s got the measurables (6-foot-5, 320 pounds), Slayton added a bunch of weight from high school to the college ranks. While his career stats don’t make sense (six total sacks) for a guy of his caliber, he definitely is SU’s best hope.

His six sacks are the most among the defense entering 2018, that’s sad. He’s their most experienced player as a two-year starter at defensive end. He’s entering his final campaign and aspires to be a NFL level talent.

A lot of the SU story will be told in the trenches both on offense and defense. Dino Babers has openly said that there will be a healthy rotation on the defensive line. Hopefully that can keep these guys fresh and healthy for the length of the season.