Syracuse Football: Garrett Shrader in top 10 nationally in passing efficiency

What a difference a year makes, along with new coaches, for Syracuse football quarterback Garrett Shrader.

Certainly, last weekend’s performance by Shrader was against an overmatched opponent. And we’ll have to wait and see how the Orange’s starting QB fares against brutal competition lurking on the horizon.

But through five games in the 2022 campaign, Shrader by and large has performed at a surprisingly high clip, from my perspective. Let’s give credit where credit is due to first-year offensive coordinator Robert Anae and first-year quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, who both left Virginia in the off-season for the Hill.

With the likes of N.C. State, Clemson and others coming up, Garrett Shrader will face tough challenges in the near future. However, he has helped lead the ‘Cuse to its first 5-0 start in a season dating back to 1987, with the Orange nationally ranked in both major top-25 polls.

Syracuse football quarterback Garrett Shrader, so far, has proven highly efficient.

According to ESPN statistics, Shrader in 2022 is completing 70.9 percent of his passes. Through the air, he has generated 1,224 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and just one interception.

If those numbers held up over the 12-game regular season, Shrader would collect nearly 3,000 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, while only having two to three picks. I’m more than good with such production.

When Syracuse football crushed FCS team Wagner, 59-0, this past Saturday in Central New York, I fully recognize that the Seahawks were not a formidable foe.

Regardless, Shrader’s passes in that non-conference encounter looked so darn crisp, and he didn’t throw an incompletion. Against Wagner, Garrett Shrader was 17-of-17 for 238 passing yards and two touchdowns in the air. He also had a rushing score.

Per stats on ncaa.com, Shrader is presently No. 8 across the entire country in passing efficiency, with a rating of around 176. For some context, in 2021, Shrader’s rating was 113.7, according to ESPN.

His current completion percentage of a sliver under 71 percent is good for No. 12 nationwide. To reiterate, let’s see how Shrader does versus stiffer competition, but for now, it’s hard not to like the improvements that he has made throwing the football as compared to a stanza ago.

Stretched out over 12 affairs, Shrader is also on pace for 525 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground.

Could you imagine if Shrader ended up accounting for roughly 3,500 yards between the air and the ground, along with approximately 35 touchdowns?

That, to me, would prove a stellar 2022 term for Garrett Shrader, and if the ‘Cuse keeps on winning, one would assume he could likely contend for All-ACC honors.