Syracuse Football: Who is the next big pass-rusher?

Syracuse football lost two major pass-rushers in Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman to the NFL. Who will get to the quarterback in 2020?

In college every year, you expect to welcome a new crop of players and say goodbye to others. However, it’s not always easy to part ways with great players like Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman. Robinson was recently selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, while Coleman signed an undrafted free agent contract. So now Syracuse football is tasked with filling the production left by future NFL players.

Last season, Syracuse recorded 30 sacks and 20.5 of those takedowns were by players who are no longer on the roster. So nearly two-thirds of their pass-rushing production is gone. Head coach Dino Babers has to look into his roster and see who can shine this season. Last year, redshirt senior Brandon Berry was the surprise of the year as he led the squad with five and a half sacks. ‘Cuse has a few options this season to take the reins as the sack leader, so let’s dive in.

Josh Black

Of the players on the 2020 roster, Josh Black tallied the most sacks last season with four. The redshirt senior has shown flashes of pass-rushing brilliance in his career and is the obvious choice to take over. Black is a versatile lineman who can play the nose tackle position or the end. So far, he has started in 25 games. Look for him to clog up the middle of the defense and sneak by the O line to record a few more sacks this season.

Kingsley Jonathan

Another veteran presence on the ‘Cuse roster is Kingsley Jonathan. The only caveat is he is recovering from an injury this offseason, so his status is unknown. But if he is healthy, Dino Babers should utilize him to rush the passer. Each year Jonathan has made an impact on the Hill, and that needs to continue this year with an expanded role. Without Robinson and Coleman, there will be a hole to fill, and Jonathan could be the one to step up. In 2018 he recorded a career-high five sacks, and this season he should rival those numbers. Overall he’s contributed 49 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 10.5 tackles for loss, including seven and a half sacks.

Tyrell Richards

This season Syracuse is transitioning to the 3-3-5 defensive scheme, and this has forced linemen to convert to a linebacker role. And with Tyrell Richards starting off the line this season, he should be able to fight tackles off the edge. Last year Lakiem Williams finished the year with four and a half sacks from the linebacker position. Expect Richards to match the production of Williams this season. For the Orange Richards has served as a pass-rushing specialist and will now receive a greater opportunity to flourish. So far, he’s secured four sacks in his career, but look for that number to skyrocket in 2020.

Latarie Kinsler

Lastly, Latarie Kinsler is an exciting option for the Orange. He comes in as a true freshman, so he might not receive much playing time. However, he is a highly touted pass-rusher who received 28 offers. As a junior in high school, he finished with 14 sacks and five forced fumbles. His senior year, he suffered an injury and missed a portion of the season. But his stats don’t lie, and he could be a viable weapon for Syracuse if Babers chooses to use his pass-rush abilities in his freshman year.