Syracuse football has all the makings for a successful season in 2020. These players will need to perform well to meet those expectations.
Syracuse football is just two months away from potentially returning to the field, barring any other Covid-19 related setbacks. But in the world of live sports, no one is counting on the possible negative outcomes. Rather, coaches and players are preparing as if a season is fully expectant.
For the Orange, this means setting and working on goals to surpass last year’s blunders. The ‘Cuse finished 5-7 last season, which fell below many early-season projections that had the Orange finishing at the top of the ACC. However, it became clear very early that guys like Eric Dungey, Dontae Strickland, and Jamal Custis would be hard to replace.
Even after a rough 3-7 start, Syracuse was able to win two of its last three games, including a season-ending 39-30 victory over a tough Wake Forest team. However, at 5-7, the Orange just missed out on a second straight bowl appearance, forcing all eyes in Orange nation to look ahead at the 2020 season.
Now, in mid-July with the season fast approaching, Syracuse football is back on high alert, as the Orange are more than ready to bounce back and have a season over .500.
On paper, the answers are there. Signal caller Tommy DeVito is back and should have brushed off all of the year one starting quarterback nerves he had from last season. He’s got weapons on the ground and through the air and has one of the best defenders in all of college football leading a defense that looks to prime itself at the top of the ACC.
On both sides of the ball, there are impact players that can take the ACC and the FBS as a whole by storm. Syracuse football should be held in high regard entering the 2020 season, and these guys are the cream of the crop (or the Orange grove if you want to be specific).
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.
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.
3. Taj Harris
If there’s one aspect that’s notable in Dino Babers’ system, it’s that one wide receiver usually excels as much as any in the NCAA.
Amba Etta-Tawo, Steve Ishmael, and Jamal Custis all appeared near the top in virtually every NCAA receiving category. Last year, Trishton Jackson proved his worth, and now finds himself in the NFL. Now it’s Taj Harris’ time to shine.
Harris will have to replace Trishton Jackson who was Tommy DeVito’s main target last season, finishing with over 60 receptions and 1,000 yards. Sean Riley was also a main target, hauling in over 30 catches in 2019.
Now Harris, a junior, will have to take over the role of the top target in the pass-heavy Syracuse football offense. Last season, he caught 37 balls for 559 yards and two touchdowns, a very slight down-tick from his 2018 campaign. Part of that had to do with Jackson’s arrival, as he was a transfer and had to sit out the 2018 season.
Harris will look to build on his already reputable numbers and join the laundry list of Syracuse receivers who have thrived under Babers’ system. At 6-foot-2, he is an obvious threat for long ball passes and cross-field routes. He’s fast, has good hands, and hasn’t shown any problems with injury, citing his durability.
Look out for Harris to be a candidate for one of the three All-ACC teams at the end of the season. He’s that good.
2. Tommy DeVito
The quarterback for the Syracuse Orange, Tommy DeVito had a lot of bright spots in 2019 but also left some question marks. This type of up and down play has ‘Cuse fans everywhere wondering how he will improve in 2020.
One thing is for certain, DeVito can throw the football – far. He threw one of the longest passes in the ACC last season, making his deep passes look seemingly effortlessly. That type of cannon can also get him into trouble. His 19 touchdowns to five interceptions ratio in 2019 aren’t necessarily bad, but DeVito often threw the ball into double-coverage trying to make a big play happen, instead of throwing the ball away and letting punter-U go to work.
Overall, it’s what DeVito isn’t that had Syracuse fans scratching their heads. After being treated to one of the best players in Syracuse history in Eric Dungey, Orange fans weren’t sure what to expect. Simply put, Dungey made all the right plays, was a glorified running back, and at times full back, and had an underrated arm combined with good decision making.
While DeVito isn’t that, he is a pocket passer with a tremendous arm. The offensive line should be improved, so DeVito may take off outside the pocket a bit more than he did last year.
If Tommy DeVito can play within himself, there’s no reason why Syracuse football can’t win more games than lose in 2020.
1. Andre Cisco
If you’re tired of hearing Andre Cisco’s name, you better get used to it.
The rising junior is one of the top prospects in most NFL Mock Drafts for 2021 and has been absolutely stacking up pre-season awards for 2020 so far.
However, it isn’t just the fact that he’s that good. Cisco is also an extremely fun player to watch, which makes his hype even more believable.
He is a versatile safety, who has hands as good as a wide receiver and hits as hard as a linebacker. His field awareness is second to none, which makes him a very tough player to prepare against. Just when a quarterback thinks the coast is clear for a downfield pass, Cisco will burst out of nowhere to knock down a pass or stop an opposing team short of a first down.
Looking at the numbers, Cisco is on pace to top NCAA leaderboards in multiple categories. With 12 picks over two years, Cisco is more than capable of taking away five or six more balls during his junior year. That would place him in the top-100 in college football history. His 60-plus tackles in each of his first two seasons shed light on how he’s not just a coverage safety, but one that will make plays in the open field.
Andre Cisco will go down as one of the top players in Syracuse football history, and if this is his final year in Orange, it will be worth paying attention to.