Syracuse Orangemen Season Preview

Shafer will welcome back 45 lettermen, though only 11 starters...Spring priorities on off ense will be to develop some playmakers and rebuild an off ensive line that loses a pair of key starters...Starting QB Terrel Hunt returns aft er missing the fi nal seven games last fall with injury...A dual threat to run or pass, Hunt completed 57 percent of his passes and also ran for 6 TDs...In his absence, sophomore QB AJ Long impressed (935 yards passing, 4 TDs), at least until he too, was hampered by injuries.... Having both back healthy is a good beginning...Ts Ivan Foy and Omari Palmer, C Rob Trudo and G Nick Robinson return to lead the off ensive line with redshirt freshman Aaron Roberts fi lling the remaining guard position... RBs George Morris, II and Devante McFarlane also return and both have seen playing time...Ishmael (27 catches, 15.4 avg.) and Lewis (24 catches), who has moved to H-Back, will lead a promising receiver corps that also includes WRs Brisly Estime and Alvin Cornelius, H-backs Ashton Broyld and Philips, as well as TE Josh Parris...Defensively, the Orange will have to replace eight starters who combined for 203 starts... WLB Marqez Hodge (38 tackles) and MLB Zaire Franklin (44 tackles) are a good start...Soph Parris Bennett came out of spring as the starter at SLB ahead of Jonathan Th omas and Oliver Vigille...DE Ron Th ompson is the only returning starter upfront but senior DE Ronnie Simmons claimed the other spot in spring with junior DE Luke Arcienega competing for playing time...Redshirt freshman NT Kayton Samuels and senior DT John Raymon emerged inside as starters...In the secondary, only CB Julian Whigham (28 tackles, 1 Int.) returns, but Antwan Cordy (10 tackles, 1 Int.) Corey Winfi eld (14 tackles) and Wayne Morgan and Chauncey Scissum all saw action as reserves...Whigham and redshirt freshman Cordell Hudson will compete for one CB berth while Morgan and Winfi eld will battle for the other...Cordy came out of spring as the starter at SS with Scissum and redshirt freshman Rodney Williams competing at FS.