The Syracuse football team is searching for their next star at wide receiver. They may have found it on the transfer market in Trishton Jackson.
A big topic of conversation before the 2018 Syracuse football season kicked off revolved around whether the Dino Babers system was cranking out products or was it the talent at wide receiver making things happen?
The age old question, does the quarterback make the wide receiver or is it the other way around? Or in this case does the system crank out products and could anyone produce these numbers in this offense?
Well fast forwarding past the 2018 season, the leading receiver was Jamal Custis 51 receptions for 906 yards and six touchdowns. Not bad.
But the previous two years of Syracuse football produced even bigger video game numbers:
- Amba Etta-Tawo: 94 receptions for 1,482 yards and 14 touchdowns
- Steve Ishmael: 105 receptions for 1,347 yards and seven touchdowns
So both players essentially had double the receptions of Custis, significantly more yards, and a wash for touchdowns (Amba was an exceptional red zone threat).
Long story short, it seems like we need to give full credit to Amba and Steve for realizing their true potential under Babers. But also we need to note that neither of these players were able to produce prior to Dino showing up.
Amba’s career numbers total (prior to joining Syracuse): 30 receptions for 438 yards and one touchdown. So Dino tripled his receptions, nearly quadrupled his yards, and whatever the word is for multiplying his touchdowns by 15.
Ishmael’s transformation wasn’t nearly as dramatic, but he developed into the all-time receiving yardage leader with the Orange by the time everything was said and done.
In conclusion, it’s a combination of both. The system certainly provides additional opportunity, but the players have to seize the day.
Trishton Jackson is the next great wide receiver who will seize the day at Syracuse.
Talk about burying the lede sheesh.
Trishton Jackson is the perfect model to be the next “Steve Ishmael — Amba Etta-Tawo”, he’s a receiver who certainly has talent. Michigan State wouldn’t have brought him in if he wasn’t. And because of marginal opportunities, hasn’t been able to maximize his ability.
Enter Dino Babers.
Jackson so far in his collegiate career has totaled: 20 receptions for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He comes in at 6-foot-1, weighing in at 184 pounds.
Similar to Abdul Adams (transfer from Oklahoma), if you make a few mistakes at big time colleges, they’ll move on to other talent on the roster. Trishton has an opportunity for new life and can be the next great receiver for the Orange.
A few thousand Syracuse fans saw what he can bring to the table at the Spring Showcase back in March. A much larger crowd saw his real potential at the Camping World Bowl, it was a tease admittedly (three catches for 27 yards and a touchdown), but in those limited snaps your imagination can do the rest on what his Orange career could be.