Which Syracuse football records could still fall this season?

Going into the 2018 football season, the Syracuse Orange and the various players on the roster were expected to do some damage to the record book. And that was BEFORE we knew we’d be 7-2 through nine games and averaging well over 40 points per outing.

Now, with three quarters of the season in the rear-view mirror and four games still ahead (three regular season plus the bowl), what records are still within reach for this Orange team?

Eric Dungey

Dungey came into the season with the most individual accolades already and has only proceeded to add to them through nine weeks. After his impressive performance against NC State, he became the only player in school history with 10,000 total yards, and has since added to that total (he’s now at 10,348). That includes 8,473 passing yards, which is second in school history and just 717 yards behind Ryan Nassib for the career lead. While the 2,001 passing yards aren’t stunning just yet, he has a chance to become just the second Orange player to ever top 3,000 in a season. His total yardage is at 2,629, which is seventh for a single season, but he’s well within reach of Nassib’s high of 3,891 (in 2012).

His 1,875 career rushing yards are probably a little too far from the career marks of Bill Hurley (2,551) to make up the gap. However, Hurley’s best single-season total was 818 as a senior. Dungey’s already at 628 rushing yards, and could easily best Hurley’s total by just keeping the pace.

At 83 total touchdowns, Dungey is 13 short of Donovan McNabb’s career mark (96), while his 23 total scores are seven shy of McNabb’s single-season record. Dungey already has the most rushing TD for QBs in school history, and he’s actually third on SU’s all-time rushing TD list too (at 30). He may be able to pass Floyd Little (35), but it’s highly unlikely he’ll catch Walter Reyes at 45. Dungey’s 53 career passing touchdowns are third all-time, and he’s 17 away from the No. 2 spot (Nassib). Seems unlikely he moves up anymore there. The single-season record of 26 is also pretty much out of reach given current averages.

In less consequential records, Dungey is only the second SU quarterback to attempt over 1,000 passes, and at 1,186 throws, he’s 126 behind Nassib for first. His 729 completions are 62 back of Nassib.

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Custis

He won’t put up the insane numbers players like Amba Etta-Tawo, Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips did, but Custis still has a shot to be on the short list of Orange receivers who’ve topped 1,000 yards in a single season. The senior has 734 right now on 40 catches. It’s well within reach.

Sean Riley

Riley also isn’t necessarily putting up eye-popping numbers, but his 51 catches put him in position to be near the top portion of the single-season receptions list. Ishmael, Philips and Etta-Tawo are the only players in school history to catch 73 or more passes in a year. Riley’s recent pace could get him near or beyond that.

Andre Szmyt

With 23 field goals, Szmyt already owns the single-season Orange mark, and is within eight of the FBS mark, too. Cole Murphy holds the record for career makes at 59. By the end of his freshman season, Szmyt could be more than halfway there. He’s also on pace to have the best percentage in school history.

Defense

Kendall Coleman and Alton Robinson lead the Orange with seven sacks apiece so far. If they want to make the top 10 single-season totals, they’ll need at least three more each. The single-season record is 17.5 by Dwight Freeney in 2001, which is a little out of reach unless Louisville’s offensive line completely implodes this week (hey, maybe).

After the fast start, Andre Cisco remains at four interceptions on the year. He’s four short of Tommy Myers’s 1971 record of eight, so he’ll likely fall a little short but it’s still a strong freshman campaign.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Total offense

SU’s already scored 390 points in nine games, an average of 43.3 points per outing. The Orange record is 468 in 1998 (an average of 42.5), so it’s well within reach as soon as the Notre Dame game. That 1998 team scored 62 touchdowns while this one has scored 45 so far and would come close to that mark at current place.

Last year’s team set the single-season total yardage mark with 5,476 in 12 games. The 2018 squad has 4,304 yards through nine and would hit 6,219 at current pace. The 5.8 yards per play pace is well short of the record at 6.2 (1959, 1987, 1997).

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