Syracuse Football: Get to Know Your Orange Man - #86 David Stevens

Last year we counted down every SU football player from Chandler Jones (#99) to Phil Thomas (#1), as you can see here. Well both of those guys (and a few more in between) are gone and it's time to profile the entire 2012 Syracuse Orange football roster starting with the highest number and working out way down. Let's get to it...

Player: David Stevens

Number: #86

Position: Tight End

Year: 5th-Year Senior

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 231

Hometown: Short Hills, NJ

High School: Millburn HS

2011 Stats: Games played- 12, Rec- 19, YDS-167, TD- 1 (WVU)

2012 Projections: After playing second fiddle to the incomparable Nick Provo last season, Stevens is the top tight end on the post-spring game depth chart. Let's hope he can develop the same rapport with Ryan Nassib and put up a record breaking season like Provo did. Stevens was plagued by drops last season. Sure hands are going to be his ticket to a starting job throughout the upcoming season.

How'd He Get Here: After a stellar high school career where Stevens earned all-area honors, he chose Syracuse over offers from Akron, Army, UConn and Purdue. As a member of Greg Robinson's final recruiting class (2008), you have to wonder what the young man was thinking, but I'm sure we're all glad he's here.

What did Scout/Rivals Say?: Both Scout and Rivals gave him two stars.

Money Quote: On the turning point in his career at SU:

"There was no epiphany. It was just at one point everything started slowing down. I started to understand it more and just felt more comfortable."

Links of Wonder: No Facebook page, no Twitter handle...this kid must have been living under a rock for the last five years. It would explain why he didn't see the field until last season.

What Does Marrone Think?: After three years of anonymity, Stevens broke out during spring practice in 2011:

"He’s had a great camp. David Stevens is our leading receiver in camp. He’s done a lot of good things. I’m excited about what his role will be when we start game-planning for the season. To this point I couldn’t be more pleased with him."

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: Smart kid, majoring in forensic science and sociology.

Let Us Get a Good Look Atchya: The Internets contain no footage of Stevens, likely due to the fact that he has barely seen a football field since high school.