Syracuse Football: National writer dishes on burning ‘Cuse question in spring ball

In just a few days, Syracuse football will begin its spring practices, starting on Thursday, March 21.

Then, the Orange will hold its annual spring game on Saturday, April 20.

This year’s spring game should be competitive and exciting, based on comments made not too long ago by ‘Cuse head coach and ace recruiter Fran Brown.

ESPN, in a recent press release, noted that the Syracuse football spring game, scheduled to commence at 7 pm, will stream on both ESPN+ and the ACC Network Extra, which is fabulous.

It’s undeniable that there is a buzz surrounding the Orange program among fans that hasn’t been felt in many, many years.

Spring ball is almost here for Syracuse football.

The ‘Cuse has a favorable schedule in the upcoming 2024 stanza, according to experts. Some pundits are forecasting that Syracuse football can compete for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s upper tier in the next campaign.

While the team did lose numerous players, whether due to them exhausting their collegiate eligibility, pursuing professional aspirations or hitting the transfer portal, the Orange is returning multiple key players on both sides of the field.

What’s more, Brown and his staff did a terrific job with their 2024 recruiting class, made up of both college transfers and high school seniors.

So what should we be on the look-out for as spring ball arrives? One national writer recently discussed that topic.

In a recent piece, 247Sports national writer Chris Hummer dished on “burning” questions for every ACC squad amid spring practices.

Regarding the ‘Cuse, Hummer says, “After a big offseason, what will Fran Brown’s team look like on the field?”

Hummer echoes a sentiment from other analysts in recent months. Brown is an elite recruiter and has assembled a tremendous coaching staff. The Orange did wonders with its 2024 recruiting class.

Yet Brown is a first-year, and a first-time, head coach. Hummer writes, “this spring will give us our first real idea of what Syracuse will look from a scheme perspective.”

While Brown and his assistants “are well respected in the coaching industry … this spring should tell us a lot about what sort of offense and defense the Orange will run.”

Those are fair assessments from the 247Sports national writer. It’s one thing to recruit at an ultra-high level, but how a team actually performs on the field is a whole different thing. Brown certainly has confidence in his staff and his players ahead of 2024.

Understandably, Hummer mentions the Syracuse football starting quarterback in the upcoming term, Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord.

A five-star prep recruit and a four-star prospect out the transfer portal this off-season, McCord had a solid junior year with the Buckeyes and elected to move to the Orange for his senior season, in large part due to his strong, long-time relationships with numerous ‘Cuse coaches.

Hummer adds: “You figure Syracuse will throw quite a bit more in 2024 with Kyle McCord as QB1 – they ran 63% of the time last season. In terms of everything else? Spring should answer many of those questions.”

That’s spot on. From my perspective, some so-called experts aren’t giving enough respect to McCord within the ACC and on a national scale for next term.

Regardless, he’s got numerous talented threats at tight end and wide receiver in the SU passing attack. By extension, running back LeQuint Allen Jr. rushed for more than 1,000 yards in the 2023 campaign as a sophomore, earning All-ACC second-team honors.

The Syracuse football offense, to me, should be excellent. Let’s see how the ‘Cuse will fare on the defensive side and in special teams.

I, for one, can’t wait for spring practices to get underway for the Orange. The spring game will rock. We’ll soon have a lot better sense of what the ‘Cuse will be all about heading into the 2024 campaign.