Syracuse Football: Cuse in strong company with 2 on Maxwell watch list

Every year, the Maxwell Award goes to the most outstanding offensive player in college football, and Syracuse football is getting some preseason love for this annual honor.

Recently a list of 85 names was released for the initial Maxwell Award watch list for the upcoming season, and Syracuse football is one of 16 teams with multiple players on this list ahead of the 2023 season.

https://twitter.com/cusefootball/status/1686031137297100800?s=46&t=RAWkSYdkWcHr4uyB4BrHdg

The Syracuse football players listed were Syracuse football quarterback Garrett Shrader and wide receiver/tight end Oronde Gadsden II, according to the official Cuse website and social media page.

For more information about the award and the full list, here’s a link to the official website if you’re interested.

Syracuse football is well-represented on the Maxwell Award watch list.

Obviously, the season hasn’t started yet so anything can happen but this is a very nice accomplishment to get not just one but two players mentioned. Both men earned this honor and are going into the season with high expectations.

Even though ACC Network college football analyst Eric Mac Lain doesn’t have Shrader listed in his top 5 quarterbacks in the ACC, I fully expect he will prove he should have been on the list when the season kicks off September 2nd.

I’ve said this before and will again, if both men remain healthy, both can have a season worthy of NFL draft speculation and a successful Cuse football season. I’m also a believer in the fact that if they’re successful, they’ll draw attention and other others willing to step up to take advantage of mismatches and be productive as well.

For example, if Oronde is drawing double coverage, this could mean someone is possibly not covered/open and become a second option. Or if defenders are watching Shrader to see if he will run, a nice option pitch to LeQuint Allen or reverse play could work successfully, especially since most talk I see is about Sean Tucker being gone to the NFL and not as much about what Allen will bring.

https://twitter.com/MaxwellFootball/status/1686056156718919680

Congratulations to both Shrader and Gadsden for being added to the watch list. I can’t wait to see what first-year offensive coordinator Jason Beck has planned to utilize these two men and the offense in general when September rolls around.