Syracuse football 2017 midseason awards: Offensive MVP

The Syracuse Orange offense has gotten off to a reasonably good start -- though it could be better. Still, it’s worth celebrating the players that got us to this point.

Below, we log our votes for SU’s offensive MVP at the 2017 season’s halfway point. There are a couple obvious answers, but we invite you to weigh in as well and maybe even propose a different option, too.

Kevin Wall

Steve Ishmael, wide receiver

We wondered if Ish was ready to step into that lead receiver role and he's certainly delivered so far. Despite the struggles of the Orange to put together a full game of solid offense, Ishmael leads the nation in receptions (56) and receiving yards (729). The great start to his season has also opened up more room for the other Syracuse receivers to operate.

Adam Hillman

Eric Dungey, quarterback

While Steve Ishmael could be the obvious pick, Dungey has been the lifeline for the offense so far. Leading the team in rushing and passing, he has already accounted for 17 touchdowns. The offense goes as far as Eric Dungey will take them.

John Cassillo

Eric Dungey, quarterback

Ishmael’s been impressive this year, but the nod has to go to Dungey, who’s persevered this year despite a porous offensive line and no running game yet again. While making huge plays weekly, he’s also developed into a smarter player who’s not taking the unnecessary hits he once did. He’s also made gaudy numbers seem ho-hum -- something that we really shouldn’t take for granted. I hate to be too QB-centric, but he’s the engine that runs this offense and is the most important player on the team right now.

Those are our picks. But who’s yours? Anyone beyond Ishmael and Dungey worth considering? We added Ervin Philips as well below, just in case someone wants to make the case (and feel free to make the case in the comments).