Syracuse football: Former Orange players find homes after NFL Draft

Three Syracuse football alum have signed as undrafted free agents after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. They now look to impress their new teams.

Syracuse Football has three new additions to the NFL via the undrafted free agent route. Kendall Coleman was the first to be announced to the Indianapolis Colts. He was followed by Sean Riley to the New England Patriots and finally Trishton Jackson to Los Angeles and the Rams.

Undrafted rookies might set up to a disadvantage this year. Rookie training camps are in jeopardy of being canceled or postponed closer to the start of team camps. With such uncertainty, their futures could still change before he steps on the football field again.

For Coleman there is good news The Colts have become accustomed with Syracuse talent late in the draft and undrafted recently. Both Zaire Franklin and Steve Ishmael are currently on the Colts. Franklin a 2018 7th round pick and Ishmael signed after the draft just like Coleman.

Coleman will be joining six current listed defensive ends on the Colts roster. Indianapolis

What is not up in the air is the impact Coleman had on the field at Syracuse. Coleman played 44 games for Syracuse and totaled 137 tackles and 26.5 sacks. His junior year was his break out campaign with 10 sacks. The sack numbers dropped off his senior year but his game still evolved. Coleman deflected two passes at the line, a skill growing in importance at the NFL, and chased down more 16 more tackles.

Coleman will be missed with Alton Robinson on the defensive front for the Orange. The leadership for that unit will fall on the shoulders of Josh Black and hopefully McKinley Williams, who in November said he intends to return in 2020.

For Riley the silver lining might just the organization he is off to. New England has been synonymous with being prepared and organized when facing any challenge. If there is one team that will be able to coup with the loss of practice time it will be Bill Belichick’s squad.

Members of a Belichick squad will certainly be allowed to achieve and grow, especially on special teams, where Riley’s best shot of early playing time will most likely be. Between 115 kick off returns and 50 punt returns; Riley has a great deal of experience to lean on.

Riley only has one career special team touchdown but averaged 21.2 yards per kick return and 11.3 per punt return. Throw-in  Riley was an accomplished slot-receiver the versatility might just be too valuable for the Patriots to pass up as they struggled with reliable playmakers on offense as well as in special teams.

Jackson, the final member to announce his signing, is heading to a truly exciting destination. With offensive guru Sean McVay and the Rams, Jackson has a tremendous opportunity to be put in positions specifically tailored for him and Los Angeles to succeed. Jackson along with second-round pick Van Jefferson from Florida are new weapons for McVay and Quarterback Jared Goff. They will be tasked with replacing wideout Brandin Cooks who was traded for a pick that was later used on Jefferson.

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In his only full season with Syracuse Jackson poised fantastic numbers and the clear number one option for Tommy DeVito. In his 13 games, (12 in 2019 and the bowl game in 2018) Jackson caught 69 passes for 1050 yards and 12 touchdowns.

That eye-popping production might have been a double-edged sword for Jackson. It obviously put him in the eyes of NFL scouts and teams but did so in a very deep wide receiver class. Any other year, maybe even this year, Jackson was deserving of being selected in the Draft. Even though he was not selected and after four years of college already, Jackson made a good choice to leave early and was rewarded by joining a team that he will be given a solid chance of succeeding.

Five former Orange in total has now found their next stops. On Day three of the Draft both Robinson (Seattle Seahwaks) and Sterling Hofrichter (Atlanta Falcons) were selected.