Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI
Syracuse rocked the college football world last October, knocking off defending national champion Clemson. It was downhill after that, however, as the Orange dropped all of their remaining five games to finish 4-8.
SYRACUSE ORANGE
►►Syracuse is led by former Bowling Green coach Gino Babers, but his latest version of Orange hasn’t fare quite as well. His western New York teams are 8-16 in Babers’ two seasons at the helm.
►► Babers team uses an uptempo spread system, so it will be an early test for a Broncos defense that could well spend more time on the field this season.
►► Like Western Michigan, Syracuse finished the 2017 campaign without the services of its starting quarterback. Both QBs are back for the opener, and for SU that means dual threat Eric Dungey will be behind center. He is the only active FBS QB with at least 6,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.
►► The Orange lost their two top receivers from 2017. Junior Devin Butler (33 catches, 327 yards) is the top returning receiver.
►► Three returning starters will be joined by guard Aaron Roberts, who returns from an ACL injury.
►► The Orange defense slipped over the last three game – coincidental to when SU lost its starting quarterback. Six starters return. Most of the experience is across the front or in the secondary. There will be new starters across the linebacking level.
Alton Robinson had a team-high five sacks and DT Chris Slayton registered 8.5 tfl. Cornerback Scoop Bradshaw and Christopher Frederick, as well as safety Evan Foster, have starting experience.
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