The 2019 Syracuse Orange football depth chart has been unveiled today, just ahead of this week’s ACC media days. So first and foremost, check that out below:
— NunesMagician.com (@NunesMagician) July 16, 2019
The update also comes with some roster changes, including new numbers for several players and the additions of nearly all of the 2019 recruits (save Ishmael Goulbourne). There are also new walk-ons (Nate Wellington and Michael Midkiff), and two players — Luke Erickson and KK Hahn — are no longer on the team.
But now onto the depth chart changes:
Offense
- Moe Neal currently has the starting nod at running back, with Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard getting an “OR” as the backup (we’ll see if that changes closer to the start of the season).
- Trishton Jackson is now one of the starting wide receivers, after being listed as a reserve during spring ball.
- Freshman Courtney Jackson already has an “OR” at the slot receiver reserve role with Nykeim Johnson (who’s also been injured a bit this offseason).
- Anthony Red and Carlos Vettorello are your starting tackles right now, with Airon Servais at center and Sam Heckel at left guard (Evan Adams remains the starting right guard) — South Alabama transfer Ryan Alexander also hasn’t been on campus very long, so that could be part of the reason he’s currently a reserve.
Defense
- As has been the case lately, the defensive depth chart lists the 4-2-5 alignment that was implemented for portions of last season.
- Andrew Armstrong and Lakiem Williams are currently listed as starting linebackers, with Mikel Jones and Juan Wallace serving as reserves — no Tyrell Richards on this depth chart.
- Despite Antwan Cordy being part of the team this season, he’s also not listed on this two-deep (Trill Williams and Allen Stritzinger are the two nickel backs right now).
- After a strong first season on the field, Ifeatu Melifonwu has supplanted (for now, anyway) Scoop Bradshaw at one of the starting cornerback roles, with Bradshaw now backing up Christopher Fredrick on the other side.
- Eric Coley is currently listed as Andre Cisco’s backup at free safety.
This could still change quite a bit before we get to week one, but it’s a good baseline for what we can expect for this coming season. Anything you’re most surprised by here? Think for me, it’s probably the offensive line, plus the ORs at offensive skill positions. In any case, plenty of fodder for questions when Dino Babers takes the podium at ACC Football Kickoff tomorrow.