Orange have eyes on ACC prize
Babers’ team looks to keep it going after 10-win season
Dino Babers’ Syracuse team came within one defensive stop of handing defending national champion Clemson its only ACC loss of the 2018 season. This year, the Orange are looking not just to play spoiler, but to compete for an ACC title.
During his three-year tenure, Babers has worked on the team’s conditioning and turned the Orange into a top-25 team in terms of defensive efficiency. Last season, Syracuse finished with 10 wins for the first time since 2001.
With 6,800 season tickets sold, close to 4,500 more than 2018’s total, the Orange are looking to put on a show for fans and exceed their projected secondplace Atlantic Division finish.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 FBS teams in the country entering the 2019 season. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 25: Syracuse
Coach: Dino Babers (18-19 entering fourth season, 55-35 overall)
2018 record: 10-3 overall, 6-2 in ACC; second in Atlantic Division
Look back: The Orange cruised to victories during their first four games, putting up 62 points against nonconference Wagner and 30 against Florida State. Clemson put together a last-minute drive to hand Syracuse its first loss of the season, and the Orange stumbled the following week against Pitt. Syracuse recovered and won six of its last seven games to close out the season, including a 34-18 victory against West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl.
Offensive starters returning: 6
Offensive starters lost: 5 Defensive starters returning: Defensive starters lost: 3
Key losses: QB Eric Dungey, WR Jamal Custis, LT Cody Conway, LG Aaron Roberts, RT Koda Martin, DT Chris Slayton, LB Ryan Guthrie, LB Kielan Whitner
Top returnees: RB Moe Neal, WR Sean Riley, WR Nykeim Johnson, WR Taj Harris, C Airon Servais, RG Evan Adams, DE Alton Robinson, NT McKinley Williams, DE Kendall Coleman, DB Antwan Cordy, CB Christopher Fredrick, SS Evan Foster, FS Andre Cisco, CB Scoop Bradshaw
Strengths: Baber’s defense was ranked No. 23 nationally in efficiency and third in the ACC behind Clemson and Miami. The Orange return the bulk of a defensive line that recorded a program-record 43 sacks. Syracuse also has a lot of depth and experience in the secondary, which, coupled with the defensive line, should bolster the Orange’s pass defense.
Weaknesses: The offensive line has a few question marks. Syracuse lost three starters and two reserves from last season. On top of that, several returning players will be playing in new positions, including Airon Servais, who is switching from center to right tackle.
Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito is described as a traditional pocket passer and not as apt to making plays with his legs as former QB Eric Dungey was, so the offensive line finding a groove immediately becomes even more important for the Orange.
Syracuse is expected to feature a more traditional run game with DeVito playing more in the pocket, adding to the pressure on the offensive line.
The run defense also has room to improve. Last season, four different teams rushed for more than 200 yards against the Orange.
Outlook: Babers has made great strides in the three years as head coach. Though young on offense, the Orange return talented defensive players who should support the team while players on the other side of the football find their footing. Aside from an early game against Clemson, the Orange start the season facing four nonconference teams in their first five games and don’t hit key ACC matchups until midOctober.