2002 Statistics

written by Collin Mickle

Offense was never a problem for Syracuse in 2002, and it is unlikely to be a major concern in '03. The Orangemen return the core of a solid unit (376 yards per game), led by tailback Walter Reyes.

Reyes gained 1,135 yards as a junior, scoring an amazing 17 touchdowns. With the return of four starting offensive linemen, Reyes should be able to improve upon his impressive numbers in 2003. Fatigue should not be a factor, as Reyes has a pair of capable backups.

Sophomore Damien Rhodes will be Reyes' primary backup, the job he held last season, and will also contribute on special teams as a kick and punt returner. Rhodes is a physical pounder, an excellent change of pace for Reyes, who is more of a slasher. Redshirt freshman Tim Washington picked up valuable experience in the spring, while Rhodes and especially Reyes were sidelined to protect against injuries. The high school All-American could be the X-factor at running back, with his remarkable speed and shifty moves.

Aside from the stable of quality running backs, the offensive line should be the pride of the Syracuse offense. Anchored by senior center Nick Romeo - a three-year starter - the line can boast plenty of experience. The five players on the line - tackles Adam Terry and Kevin Sampson, guards Matt Turullo and Jason Greene, and center Romeo - have a combined 72 games of starting experience.

The Orangemen have a question mark at quarterback, where holdover R.J. Anderson, a senior, will begin as the starter after passing sophomore Xzavier Gaines and injured redshirt freshman Perry Patterson in the spring. Although he is not a gifted passer and has displayed a penchant for interceptions, Anderson is a good athlete, a natural runner, and a respected leader - he was elected team captain at the conclusion of spring drills.

Besides, Anderson will not be called upon to carry the offense - that will be Reyes' task. Further marginalizing the passing game is the inexperience in the thin wide receiver corps. The four players vying for the two positions - Jared Jones, Rashard Williams, Johnnie Morant, and Andre Fontenette - are inexperienced players, backups up to this point. The loss of second-team All-Big East receivers Jamel Riddle and David Tyree further weakens an already suspect unit. Riddle was a second-team All-Big East receiver. He is attending Onondaga Community College this spring and his return to the Orangemen remains doubtful. Riddle was dismissed from the school for academic reasons.

C Nick Romeo

written by Collin Mickle

The Orangemen will boast one of the Big East's most experienced front lines. Three senior starters return in tackles Louis Gachelin and Christian Ferrara, and end Josh Thomas. Gachelin, a former defensive end, has serious pass-rushing skills - he led the team with 8.5 sacks, an extremely high total for an interior lineman, and was named second-team all-conference. The 6-4 Ferrara is a classic gap-clogger in the middle. Thomas' numbers (33 tackles, 3 sacks) are fairly pedestrian, but the senior, a three-year starter, leads by example and is an important part of the defensive unit. Talented 6-5 sophomore James Wyche (40 tackles as a reserve) will fill the other end position.

Middle linebacker Rich Scanlon, a fifth-year senior, has started 17 career games, and is coming off a career-high 58 tackles while playing on the outside. With the departure of middle linebacker Clifton Smith, Scanlon will be playing a new position (appeared to make the adjustment with ease in the spring). With two new starters flanking him, Scanlon will need to provide consistency in the middle. Sophomore Kellen Pruitt (25 tackles last season) takes over at the weak side, while redshirt freshman Kelvin Smith - the nephew of former SU star Keith Bulluck - will play the strong side. The pair is very talented, but defensive coordinator Chris Rippon will depend on Scanlon to keep both players on the right page. Hurting this unit is the huge loss of Jameel Dumas, the second-leading tackler for the Syracuse Orangemen last season, who has withdrawn from school.

Perhaps the most purely talented player on defense is sophomore cornerback Steve Gregory. Voted a freshman All-America after leading the conference with 21 passes defended in 2002 - the first freshman to do so - Gregory is the only returning starter in the secondary. He can be a shut-down player at the position, the kind of defensive back who can take away half of the field.

After Gregory, the defensive backfield is also a question mark. Sophomore Thomas Whitfield, who will play opposite Gregory, has speed to spare, but his height - 5-9 - is a weakness in a conference with so many tall receivers. The projected starters at free and strong safety have very little experience. Diamond Ferri was a running back two seasons ago, and spent last year in community college. O'Neill Scott saw most of his action on special teams.

Syracuse finished at the bottom of the Big East pack in just about every statistical category from rushing to passing defense last fall. Thus, the final translation was reflected in their overall record. It's a very simple prediction, if the defense does not improve, the 2003 record will not improve.

CB Steve Gregory