Before Gus Edwards, Gehrig Dieter was also blocked from Syracuse transfer

As you know, former Miami Hurricanes running back Gus Edwards wants to transfer to the Syracuse Orange. However, the UM administration won’t allow him to since SU’s on Miami’s 2017 schedule.

Edwards, once an Orange commit, is from Staten Island and since completing his degree at Miami, he just wants to play closer to home and create a chance to potentially play in the NFL.

It’s a reasonable thing to do. If you don’t feel like your current job is putting you in a position to succeed, you’re allowed to leave without penalty more often than not. Non-competes exist, sure. But a) they’re unenforceable in many places (like California). And b) your employer doesn’t have you held hostage as free labor whether they utilize you or not.

Given Syracuse’s running backs situation right now, they could certainly use the help in the backfield that Edwards would provide. We’ll see if Miami finally gives up and lets him transfer to the school of his choice.

Speaking of blocked transfers, it was also revealed today that another notable player was prevented to coming to Syracuse a year ago.

Gehrig Dieter was a standout in Dino Babers’s offense at Bowling Green. In 2015, he caught 94 passes for 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns. He ended up at Alabama in 2016, where he wasn’t used a ton, but still managed 15 catches for 214 yards and four TDs.

When Babers and most of his coaching staff left for SU, Dieter wanted to come with, but despite having his degree in hand, BGSU wouldn’t let him. This limited player movement was not about upcoming schedules (Bowling Green and Syracuse aren’t slated to play anytime soon). It was about the perception of players fleeing to follow Babers.

Why is that Edwards’s, Dieter’s or any other kid’s fault?

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After a standout 2015, Dieter wanted to join a team in need of wide receivers so he could put up some big numbers en route to potential NFL interest. After being underutilized in Miami, Edwards wants his shot to prove himself closer to home.

They have/had their degrees already. What more do they owe their schools before leaving to determine their future? They had that flexibility before they left for college. Why not once they’re there -- the same way other students have opportunities to transfer and pursue advanced degrees wherever they’d like?

Plus, could you imagine if Dieter AND Amba Etta-Tawo were on last year’s team? Granted, no guarantees Amba ends up at SU if Dieter signs. Dieter made his decision to head to Alabama in February. Etta-Tawo didn’t make it official with Syracuse until late March. If Babers already had the known quantity (Dieter) in the door, perhaps he doesn’t feel the need to add Etta-Tawo as well.

Nonetheless, that and maybe Edwards, could turn out to be some serious “what ifs” down the line for SU. Hopefully for Edwards, the ending is a bit different for him than it was for Dieter. As Babers’s offense takes hold at SU, you can bet more and more talent will continue knocking on the door with a chance to audition for the pros like Etta-Tawo did.