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

10. Airon Servais will lead the offensive line.

With the departure of Koda Martin among others, the offensive line is probably the biggest guessing game for Syracuse going into the 2019 season. After redshirting the 2016 season, Servais has started 25 straight games for the Orange, thus bringing much-needed experience to an offensive line that will need to perform well for Dino Babers’ offense to work correctly.

9. The ‘Cuse wide receiver core is built with speed

With the loss of Jamal Custis, Syracuse will need to find a receiver who can fill the slot as the number one option. However, the speed will be there. Trishton Jackson, Taj Harris, Nykeim Johnson, and Sean Riley all have incredible speed, which allows for a very versatile offense to be played.

8. Trishton Jackson could be the next Jamal Custis

Jackson is my choice to replace Custis. After scoring a touchdown in last year’s bowl game, it is clear that he will be used as a common target this season, and at 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, Jackson has the makeup of a receiver who can run past defenders and beat them on a toss-up.

7. Depth at the running back position is amazing

Not only does Syracuse return near 1,000 yard rusher Moe Neal, but it also brings in Abdul Adams, a former 4-star who played for none other than Oklahoma. Oh, and even more, the Orange also return Jarveon Howard and fullback Chris Elmore, both who had made impacts a year ago, and will look to use that experience again in 2019.

6. Moe Neal will be a 1,000-yard rusher

If you watched the first episode of ‘La Familia’, the new Syracuse football mini-series, you’ll know that Neal has goals of rushing for over 1,000 yards this season. I totally see that happening. Last season, he split carries with Dontae Strickland and Jarveon Howard, and this year he will again have to split with Howard and Abdul Adams. With that being said, he came within 200 yards a season ago, but the schedule this year points at more opportunity for games with more yards. 1,000 is certainly in reach. That would be the first time Syracuse has had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2012.