Syracuse Football: Andre Cisco makes magazine’s preseason first-team

Expectations are already high for Andre Cisco, a rising junior for Syracuse football. The safety has been picked preseason First-Team by Street & Smith.

We’re officially in the countdown for the 2020 college football season. Street & Smith released their annual preseason All-America teams. One familiar name is Syracuse football defensive star, Andre Cisco.

The recognition should also be familiar, as according to Syracuse.com, it’s the second straight year Street & Smith has named Cisco a preseason first-team All-American.

Cisco erupted onto the college football scene in 2018, setting freshman records and sitting atop NCAA leaderboards when the season was all set and done. He finished his frosh year with seven interceptions, a forced fumble, and nearly 50 tackles, all while being named an AP third-team All-American.

His ball-hawking abilities didn’t cease after year one, disproving the often claimed ‘sophomore slump’. Instead, Cisco seemingly didn’t lose a step, finishing 2019 with five picks, a defensive touchdown, a forced fumble, and over 40 tackles for the second consecutive season.

Year three will have added pressure though for the Syracuse football star. Cisco is seen as one of, if not the top safety in all of college football. He will be eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft, meaning another steady year featuring interceptions, big hits, and defensive stops will be key if he wants to be a high pick. Some NFL Draft experts already see him with first-round potential.

If one thing is for certain, it’s that the Street & Smith honor can’t be something to settle on. Sure, preseason awards are cool for the fans to see and brag about, but if Cisco can’t back it up, it means little to nothing.

Obviously, Cisco did back it up last season. However, heading into a year in which his draft stock is extremely high, it will be important for Cisco to keep up the incredible pace. And with a so-called ‘easy schedule’ this season, there’s a good chance he can live up to the expectations and then some.