The Syracuse football squad lost one of their most talented players in tight end Ravian Pierce. Here’s what they’ll try to do in his absence.
The Syracuse football squad has been extremely fortunate so far this season avoiding serious injury.
Although that luck couldn’t last forever and it didn’t, Syracuse tight end Ravian Pierce has been ruled out for the foreseeable future by the team.
Immediately following the game Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers had this to say regarding Pierce’s status moving forward:
"“I really don’t want to guess, but he’s got an upper-body injury and he’s going to be out for a while. It’s really kind of disappointing, it kind of snuck up on us. He’s such a tough guy. We didn’t know exactly when it happened and we’re just going to leave it at that.”"
Pierce did not play against UConn on Saturday. Earlier in the week it was revealed that Pierce had suffered an undisclosed injury that would keep him out for at least the UConn game and now it has been confirmed that he’ll be out ‘for a while’.
On paper this is a huge loss for the Orange. Ravian Pierce is the most talented skill position player on this offense and when he’s healthy and involved in the offense he can provide so many different things.
The Syracuse prospects expected to step up in his place:
- Aaron Hackett
- A talented guy who is oozing with promise. So far the potential hasn’t turned into production, but perhaps with more opportunities he’ll seize the moment.
- Chris Elmore
- More known for his prowess as a full back or jumbo player, Elmore is also listed at tight end for the Orange. He’s a blocking threat who can sneak past you as an occasional receiver.
- Gabe Horan
- A local product from Baldwinsville who got his first career touchdown against UConn. Dino Babers said he has a long way to go and he made plenty of mistakes, but he likes having him on the team.
Also the team will use different offensive sets that marginalize the impact of the tight end. Think 4-2-5 defense for the Orange in which they marginalized the impact of their inexperienced linebacking corps.
But even beyond what Pierce means to the team, this is a frustrating injury for Pierce on a personal level. Ravian transferred over from Southwest Mississippi Community College and presented a 6-foot-3, 237 pound frame.
He came over with two years of eligibility remaining. Last season he underwhelmed statistically, but showed great promise for what he could eventually be. Heading into this season with no clear No. 1 option on the team, many expected Pierce to be THE guy for the Orange.
Now with his future in doubt, we may have seen the last of Pierce on the Syracuse campus and that’s a damn shame. Hopefully he can recover from what is being labeled an upper body injury and come back to this Orange squad before everything is all said and done.