Syracuse football: Safety Rodney Williams will pursue graduate transfer

Apparently the Syracuse Orange’s roster shuffling isn’t done yet for 2018. According to a post on Twitter Tuesday morning, redshirt senior Rodney Williams will pursue a graduate transfer and play elsewhere for his final year of eligibility.

Williams played for Syracuse for the past four seasons, starting six games at free safety in 2017 and 10 at strong safety in 2016. He also started the last five contests of 2015, due to the defensive backs unit getting ravaged by injuries once again. Williams earned a medical redshirt in 2014 after playing in just two games.

On his career, Williams had 125 tackles, six passes defended, a sack and two picks.

While there were no guarantees, he could’ve been in the mix to start once again in 2018, depending on how the younger players came along.

Williams’s departure now makes four defensive backs transferring this offseason, along with Cordell Hudson, Daivon Ellison and Juwan Dowels. That leaves a pretty short list of Shafer DBs remaining on the roster. Antwan Cordy being the most notable.

Syracuse’s secondary struggled once again in 2017, after a strong start. Following injuries to Cordy (again) and Toledo transfer Jordan Martin, defending the pass became a much tougher ask. Dino Babers and his staff have been pursuing defensive backs in earnest these past few recruiting cycles, with four new players for 2018 alone.

Williams’s transfer opens up a fourth roster spot for 2018 now, which could be filled be late recruiting additions from high school/JUCOs or grad transfers.

Best of luck, Rodney!