Syracuse Football: Top five players to watch in 2020

4. Abdul Adams

One of the secondary running backs a season ago, Abdul Adams rushed for 336 yards and three touchdowns in his first full season in Orange.

Adams spent his first two years in Oklahoma, where he rushed for over 800 yards in only 112 attempts as a Sooner. He then transferred to Syracuse, where he was eligible for the 2019 Camping World Bowl, rushing for 19 yards and two touchdowns on eight attempts.

Last season, Adams shared carries with Jarveon Howard, but both were behind Moe Neal on the depth chart. Now that Neal has graduated, it leaves head coach Dino Babers with the decision of who will replace his carries.

While Babers could decide to go with a two RB committee – it worked in 2019 with Neal and Dontae Strickland – Adams would be the likely suitor for the lead ball carrier.

His biggest impact on the game is the ability to take hits and extend plays. At 5-feet-11, 202 pounds, Adams his a physical back who can also speed past defenders to gain extra yardage. Howard is more of a bruiser and seems more like a third-down back.

If Adams can return to his Oklahoma form, it should bode extremely well for a Syracuse football team in need of an offensive boost in the backfield. Syracuse will have plenty of options to run the ball in 2020, but Adams is the main guy to keep an eye on.