Syracuse Football: 30 things you need to know ahead of the 2019 season

15. Expect the Syracuse defense to allow an average of fewer than 24 points per game

Sure, ‘Orange is the new fast’, but it also is the new defense as well. Last season, ‘Cuse gave up an average of 27 points each contest, which was widely in part due to a three-game slice of the schedule in which the Orange gave up 35 or more points each time out. However, with the majority of the players back on a defense that was already considered pretty good, there’s no reason this team couldn’t lower that a bit and really play some stingy defense.

14. Expect ‘Cuse to average at least 30 points per game

I’ll admit, with no Eric Dungey, Jamal Custis, Dontae Strickland, and Koda Martin, this will be a new-look offense. However, they are replaced in the good hands of Tommy DeVito, Trishton Jackson, and Abdul Adams, along with countless returning players who did have pretty big impacts a season ago. It may look a little bit different at first, but this team will be able to score a lot of points, and matching last year’s total of just over 40 points a game certainly isn’t out of the question.

13. Special Teams has a chance to be something very special

Ha, see what I did there? But in all seriousness, ‘Cuse brings back their All-American and Lou Groza award-winning kicker in Andre Szmyt, while punter Sterling Hofrichter made the pre-season Ray Guy award watch list. Even more? Cuse performed pretty well on kick and punt returns last season and returns most of the same guys who will be doing those duties this year.

12. The defensive secondary isn’t too shabby either

I’m not going to lie, this might be my favorite part of the 2019 Orange football team. Led by Andre Cisco, Scoop Bradshaw, Christopher Frederick, Evan Foster, and Trill Williams, the Orange have a slew of guys that not only anchored a great defense last season but also had 18 total interceptions. They even brought back Antwan Cordy for a sixth year of eligibility, as well as numerous others, meaning that depth and experience will play a huge role.

11. The defensive line will play a huge role

The only spot Syracuse really isn’t great at is the linebacker position, but since the defensive secondary and defensive line are both so experienced, it might not be that big of a deal. The Orange return Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman – two guys that each had 10.0 sacks in 2018 and will be looking to add even more this season.