Dino Babers remains coy on Syracuse’s starting quarterback

Eric Dungey has started for the large majority of the last three Syracuse Orange football seasons. And with SU hitting reset at key positions like wide receiver and linebacker this year, that seems unlikely to change in an important year for Dino Babers’s tenure.

That said, he hasn’t really named a starting quarterback yet, even if he knows who it is. I mean... it’s probably Dungey. But Tommy DeVito’s been getting some first-team reps throughout the offseason. No matter how optimistic you are that Dungey can stay healthy this season, it’s foolish not to have someone ready to go in his place. And this time around, the Orange might actually have a replacement that can excel in this system.

So when the depth chart comes out next Monday, you’ll see Dungey is QB 1. Just don’t think Babers picking him is a 100-percent endorsement of his ability or fit. It’s paying respect to what he’s done and the value of his experience playing for Babers as it pertains to winning right now. DeVito’s getting his time very soon.

The rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

Syracuse football coach Dino Babers knows his starting QB, but won’t name him (Syracuse.com)

Babers addressed the competition between senior Eric Dungey and redshirt freshman Tommy DeVito briefly on Tuesday, saying that the battle will continue into the year and that he’s excited to see both signal-callers in live action. Will both play in Kalamazoo? ”It all depends on how the score goes,” Babers said.

College basketball: Jim Boeheim optimistic about Syracuse prospects (NCAA.com)

Mike Hopkins’ decision to leave the comfort of Syracuse for his first head coaching job at Washington last year ultimately led to Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim coaching his son Buddy. “It enabled me to coach my son,’’ said Boeheim on the NCAA.com podcast March Madness 365. “It couldn’t have worked out better for me.’’

Syracuse RB Dontae Strickland, two others starters return (Syracuse.com)

Senior running back Dontae Strickland, junior defensive end Kendall Coleman and junior strong safety Evan Foster were all fully dressed. Coleman hasn’t been a full participant since the first week of camp due to an apparent knee injury while Strickland and Foster missed about a week-and-a-half with undisclosed ailments.

2018 NC State football: Ranking the opposing QBs (Backing the Pack)

4. Syracuse — Projected Starter: Eric Dungey (SR); Top Reserve(s): Tommy DeVito (r-FR). It’s not often that a three-year starting QB could potentially lose out on his job as a senior, especially to a guy who was on the roster the previous year, but apparently that could well happen at Syracuse this year. Dino Babers has apparently had enough with the passing inconsistency of Dungey that he’s opened up the competition for the starting gig...

Sizing up the ACC season in August (WRALSportsFan)

Dungey is ready for the questions about 2018: “In my sophomore year, you guys were saying, ‘You lost Amba, so what are you going to do next?’ And then Steve and Irv stepped up.” Dungey can’t say who will step up following Ishmael and Phillips’ departure, but he has confidence someone will: “I see a lot of young guys.

Sydney Brackett’s goal and assist fuel Orange’s surge past Huskies, 2-1 (Daily Orange)

A thought experiment: Which ACC program could make sense for Jalen Hurts? (ACC Sports Journal)

Atlantic, Schmalantic (From the Rumble Seat)

Pandemonium Reigns: Jeff Hall kick-started Tennessee’s journey to the 1998 national championship ... twice (Saturday Down South)

Updated Giants 53-man roster projection at halfway point of preseason (Big Blue View)

Five things learned: Colts-Ravens (Colts.com)