ACC Football - 2021 Syracuse Orange Preview
Our Syracuse Orange preview 2021 notes that last season this team finished with the worst record in the ACC. The Orange were 1-9 in the conference and 1-10 overall. Their lone victory came on September 26 when they beat Georgia Tech 37-20. In the ACC last year, Syracuse ranked last in all major offensive categories. On defense, they were not much better, as the Orange were 15th in total yards, 14th in rushing yards, and 11th in passing yards and scoring. Is there no other way for this last place team to go but up? Well, actually, they could go sideways.
Syracuse Offense
The best part of the Syracuse offense is its rush attack. The two top running backs, Sean Tucker and Cooper Lutz, return. Last year, averaging 4.6 YPA, Tucker rushed for 626 yards and four scores on 137 attempts, while Lutz was good for 5.7 YPA. They will see competition from two experienced running backs who opted to sit out last season, Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard. Junior Tommy DeVito returns at quarterback. However, former four-star prospect Garrett Shrader, a dual-threat from Mississippi State, will compete for the top signal-caller job.
Also returning are the team’s two most productive wideouts, Taj Harris and Anthony Queeley. In 2020, Harris caught 58 passes for 733 yards, and Queeley made 37 grabs for 378 yards. Harris notched five TD receptions, while Queeley recorded two. A major question for this team is can their offensive line step up? For the Syracuse offense to be productive, that front men must play better.
Syracuse Orange Preview 2021 - Defense
Nine of 11 starters are back on D, including top tackler and pick man, sophomore MLB Mikel Jones. He led the nation with eight turnovers contributed to. Jones is a huge talent and the anchor of this group. Also returning to the linebacking unit is Geoff Cantin-Arku, who led the team in sacks with four. Also back is a solid D-line composed of three seniors.
The secondary sees four starters come back. Plus, New Mexico State transfer Jason Simmons Jr. should help underpin the group. The secondary has potential, but it is also the most uncertain aspect of this defense. Last season, the Orange D was better than its stats indicate. The biggest problem they faced was exhaustion, as the Syracuse offense often sputtered and stalled, which brought the defense onto the field more than one would like to see.
Specialists
The special teams must make up for some major losses, including that of talented coordinator Justin Lustig who made Syracuse’s special teams into some of the best in the ACC. He’s gone to Vanderbilt. Also gone is punter Nolan Cooney and return man Nykeim Johnson who transferred to Kent State. Our Syracuse Orange preview 2021 anticipates freshman James Williams taking on the punting chores and speedy Trebor Rena running back kicks and punts.
Syracuse Orange Preview 2021 - Projection
Our Syracuse Orange preview 2021 finds that last season this team’s offense had the worst TD rate in the nation (13.3%) while their defense owned the best percentage of non-offensive touchdowns (16.7%). That says a lot about last season. One other note, this team did face an uphill battle due to the pandemic. There is good news tfor 2021, as there is experience and depth on both offense and defense. How much improvement might one expect from the Orange this season? Enough to notch three more wins than they did last year. Time will tell.
ACC Football - Syracuse Orange 2021 - Predictions:
Seventh Place - ACC Atlantic
No Bowl Berth