Syracuse Football: Top five players to watch in 2020

5. Trill Williams

After losing Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman to the NFL in April, Syracuse will need to look elsewhere for production on the defensive front. Although those departures make the defensive line look somewhat skeptical, the Orange defensive secondary couldn’t be more different.

Trill Williams, a rising junior who plays cornerback for the ‘Cuse, is as talented as they come. As a freshman, he quickly jumped onto the scene as a reliable coverage corner with the ability to make tackles in open space. He finished year one with two interceptions, 31 tackles, and 2.5 tackles for loss on a crowded roster filled with talent.

Last season, Williams’ tackles increased to 38, although none counted as TFLs. He picked off one pass, but it was his forced fumble returned for a touchdown which was arguably the most important and highlight-worthy interception of the season for Syracuse, giving the Orange an overtime win over Wake Forest on the last game of the season.

Heading into his junior year, Williams is an under the radar playmaker who could put the Orange defense over the top in 2020. Safety Andre Cisco often gets all the attention, but Williams has a knack for picking off passes and making big open-field hits.

When he doesn’t let his game do the talking – his cleats pick up the slack.