Learn more about how backup QB Clayton Welch arrived at Syracuse

Quarterback Clayton Welch has been part of the Syracuse Orange football team since 2017, yet the headlines have always been focused elsewhere.

If articles weren’t about Eric Dungey succeeding, they were about Eric Dungey being injured. And behind Dungey, the hype around former four-star passer Tommy DeVito also took up a fair amount of attention. To a lesser extent, same goes for now-transfer QB Chance Amie and recent arrival David Summers.

But Welch remains a scholarship player for Syracuse, and one that is ready to jump in if called upon. He’s also sort of following in the footsteps of fellow Butte College alum Aaron Rodgers... albeit with a little less fanfare, and heading across the country to play college football.

Syracuse.com’s Stephen Bailey talked to Welch and Orange teammates about that road to CNY, his abilities and how he’s earned respect from teammates in his time as a reserve. It’s a good look at one of the many unsung players on the Syracuse roster, and worth a few minutes to learn a bit more about Clayton.

That, plus the rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

After following Aaron Rodgers’s path, Syracuse QB Clayton Welch ready to write his own story (Syracuse.com)

The last time an Orange backup didn’t need to step in at some point was 2012. “There’s no shortage of confidence,” SU defensive end Kendall Coleman said of Welch. “If anybody thinks he can do it, it’s Clayton. But I love that about the kid. He’s not going to back down or cower to any challenge, and that’s awesome.”

How to beat Duke (Deadspin)

They make only 30.7 percent of their threes as a team, with none of their starters hitting more than a third, and one way to have success against them is to make their guys take way more than their average of 24 per game, like Syracuse did in their 95-91 OT win at Cameron in which the Blue Devils attempted 43.

For Syracuse, the NCAA’s new crease dive rule leaves more questions than answers (Daily Orange)

The goal wouldn’t have counted last season because Robertson had landed in the crease. Murphy still could’ve been given the same dead-ball penalty he got on Sunday, but the Orange would’ve gone man-down. “I know it’s a work in progress,” Syracuse head coach John Desko said of the new rule earlier in March, “but I know we’ll be discussing it even further.”

Curry has a shot at stardom for Syracuse lacrosse (Syracuse.com)

“I probably wouldn’t have been able to take 11 shots in a game as a freshman. I wasn’t getting my hands free as much,’’ Curry said. “You think that (he might be snakebit). But that just comes with the short-term memory. You’ve just got to forget about it and move on, just keep shooting.’’

Alexa Romero reaches 500 career strikeouts, leads Syracuse in home-opening sweep (Daily Orange)

After the first game, she told her ace that she might be needed if a pressure situation arrived. To stay loose, Romero played catch in the bullpen in the top of the sixth inning, when Syracuse held a 7-5 lead. “I just made sure that I’m ready and warm, so if there’s a situation that comes up, they’re going to put me in, and I’m going to be ready,” Romero said.

ACC leads all conferences with five teams in Sweet 16 (247Sports)

Paul George believes Jerami Grant has been the ‘X-factor’ for Thunder (OKC ThunderWire)

Syracuse University physicist discovers new class of pentaquarks (Space Daily)

Ten things said, and what they mean, about Danny Manning’s return as Wake Forest’s basketball coach (Winston-Salem Journal)