Syracuse Football: Mob defense gets big-time boost with stars returning

Syracuse football has lost numerous key players lately via either the NCAA’s transfer portal or professional aspirations.

But the Orange, which recently wrapped up its 2022 season with an eight-point loss to Minnesota in the Pinstripe Bowl to finish at 7-6 overall, has also brought in some promising transfers along with a variety of high-school prospects who are part of the 2023 recruiting cycle.

What’s more, in recent days the ‘Cuse received word that star linebacker Marlowe Wax Jr. will return to the Hill in 2023. The 6-foot-1, 239-pound Wax, who hails from Baltimore, shared on social media that he will be back next season, and that’s a massive development for the Orange’s Mob defense.

Also in recent days, defensive lineman Caleb Okechukwu said he’s ready to roll as a pivotal piece of the Mob in 2023. The 6-foot-4, 268-pound Okechukwu, from Washington, D.C., and Wax undeniably will prove two leaders of the ‘Cuse defense this coming fall.

The returns of Marlowe Wax Jr. and Caleb Okechukwu to Syracuse football are huge.

As we look ahead to 2023, the Orange will have a new defensive coordinator in Rocky Long, who most recently served in the same capacity at New Mexico.

Long, per SU Athletics, is “an innovative defensive mind who brought the 3-3-5 defense to prominence.” In Central New York, he replaces Tony White, who left Syracuse football to become the defensive coordinator at Nebraska.

The Mob defense, particularly early on in the 2022 stanza, played quite well, although as the schedule got tougher and the ‘Cuse got stung by injuries, the defensive unit did experience some inconsistent performances.

Among those on defense who have departed the Orange via the transfer portal are cornerback Duce Chestnut, defensive back Ja’Had Carter, and defensive linemen Josh Hough and Steve Linton.

Additionally, star cornerback Garrett Williams and standout linebacker Mikel Jones have declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Chestnut, Carter, Williams and Jones, in particular, are large voids to fill for Syracuse football, however, Wax and Okechukwu coming back are extremely important for the ‘Cuse, too.

Wax was the team’s leading tackler in 2022. He received an All-ACC honorable-mention nod.

According to his bio on cuse.com, Wax tallied 91 total tackles in the recently completed term, along with 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and seven quarterback hurries.

Okechukwu, meanwhile, boasted 48 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries.

In a press release earlier this week regarding Wax’s decision to return to the Hill, Syracuse football noted that fellow linebackers Stefon Thompson, Derek McDonald, Anwar Sparrow, Leon Lowery and Kadin Bailey are all expected to come back to the squad.

That announcement also said that defensive lineman Terry Lockett will be returning in 2023 as well. Both Thompson and Lockett, unfortunately, suffered season-ending injuries early on in the 2022 campaign.