Syracuse Football: Duce Chestnut says Orange’s goal is to be top-10 team

Syracuse football sophomore defensive back Duce Chestnut and his Orange teammates have some big-time aspirations ahead of the 2022 season, and I absolutely love that confidence.

The ‘Cuse lost several close games a stanza ago, and the squad just missed out on a potential post-season bowl berth by finishing up 2021 at 5-7. Still, it was a solid improvement from the 2020 term, when the Orange went a woeful 1-10.

Now, there are various reasons that some national pundits are optimistic that Syracuse football can reach at least six victories in 2022, but at the same time, there are numerous question marks, too.

As such, when the Atlantic Coast Conference’s pre-season media poll got released not too long ago, the ‘Cuse was picked to finish in last place within the Atlantic Division during the upcoming campaign.

Syracuse football star DB Duce Chestnut says the Orange will be better in 2022.

To get to a bowl game this coming season, the ‘Cuse will have to navigate a potentially challenging schedule. The team will also have to improve its passing attack, its special teams, and hold up on the offensive and defensive lines, among other things.

Duce Chestnut, who was among the ACC’s best freshmen defensive players a stanza ago, recognizes this. So do his teammates. But, simultaneously, they believe the Orange can have a special 2022 stanza.

"Per a recent article from Michael Gross of SyracuseOnSI, Chestnut said in part, “Our goal is to be top 10 in the country and we know we can even be top five when we’re playing at our best. It’s definitely going to be better this year.”"

Naturally, some of my fellow ‘Cuse fans may read this quote from Duce Chestnut and have some reservations about it, given that head coach Dino Babers has only tallied one winning campaign in his tenure on the Hill.

Do I think that Syracuse football is going to reside in the top five or even the top 10 of the national polls in 2022? I do not. Do I think that the Orange can notch six, seven, maybe eight triumphs and head to a bowl game? I absolutely do.

Chestnut’s confidence is admirable, and I respect it. He easily could have said that the team’s goal is to reach six wins and earn a bowl bid. However, he took it a step further. A huge step further.

We’ll have to see how the ‘Cuse fares on the field in the coming months, although if Duce Chestnut and his Syracuse football teammates have a collective objective to be among the nation’s elite, good for them.

I’d love nothing more than for the Orange to achieve the goal that Chestnut and his ‘Cuse colleagues have set for themselves.