Former Syracuse stars Eric Dungey, Jamal Custis try to keep NFL dreams alive

While there are only a handful of former Syracuse Orange football players on active NFL rosters right now, there’s a chance that could change soon. As Syracuse.com notes, both Eric Dungey and Jamal Custis recently scored workouts.

Dungey is trying to make the Cleveland Browns as a dual-threat quarterback right now. Obviously Cleveland’s currently set at the position with Baker Mayfield under center. However, but behind him is just former Texas and SMU passer Garrett Gilbert. There are certainly some similarities between Mayfield and Dungey’s respective play styles, which could make it easier for Eric to catch on with the Browns (versus the Giants’ system, which was far more pro-style focused and also saw him as a TE/QB hybrid).

For Custis, he’s trying to make the Oakland Raiders’ — something that actually looks pretty feasible if you glance at the post-Antonio Brown depth chart. Oakland’s leading receiver right now is tight end Darren Waller, and Tyrell Williams is next with just 11 catches for 151 yards and two scores. That’s fine, sure. But you could argue Hunter Renfrow is the team’s second-best wideout. That opens some opportunities for a big target like Custis.

We’ll see what happens with both players as they hope to keep their NFL dreams going. Hopefully we’ll be seeing them on Sundays very soon.

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

Former Syracuse football stars Eric Dungey, Jamal Custis land NFL workouts (Syracuse.com)

Since being released, Dungey has planned to return to Syracuse to finish his undergraduate degree this fall. He’s also been invited to the XFL draft pool. Multiple reports also say that Custis worked out with the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday. Custis, a former Orange wide receiver, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in May, but didn’t make the team despite landing a massive $100,000 guarantee.

Syracuse’s Sean Riley picked up little-known hobby from Grammy-winning family (Syracuse.com)

And, he was a quick learner, Samuel said. “You have to know the tempo of everything,” Samuel said. “Tempo is music. Music makes everyone feel good. If the tempo is 150 (beats per minute) and if you want to load in the other track at the same time, that might have to be 150, too, to make it sound on the same tempo.”

Inside the relationship between Andre Szmyt and Sterling Hofrichter, two of the nation’s top specialists (Daily Orange)

Starting on one side of the field, the kickers punt the ball repeatedly until hitting a target, such as the crossbar. Like golf, whoever reaches the target in the least amount of strokes wins. Hofrichter doesn’t always win, either. “We’re in Ensley, so it has the roof,” Szmyt said. “So if Sterling boots one and hits [the roof], I’ll just line it.”

Hello Jim Boeheim! (It’s a pleasure to meet me) The story of a smiley chance encounter (CNYCentral)

How do you act when you see someone who is well-known? “Everyone else walks by and whispers ineffectively, trying to look inconspicuous,” Julie’s brother Derrick would later say. Not Julie. “She just gets up, taps his shoulder and while shaking his hand says, ‘Hey I’m Julie, if you need me I’m right behind you,’” Derrick recalls.

Jake Leahy still waiting for his chance to prove himself in 4th year at Syracuse (Daily Orange)

Three days a week, Leahy trained with goalkeeping coach Andrew Sparkes, who now coaches the goalies with Southampton F.C. in the English Premier League. Leahy and his dad wouldn’t get home until almost 11 p.m. on school nights. He spent most of his weekends training in Newark, a drive that sometimes took 90 minutes. “It’s a whirlwind,” Dan said. “It was a very big commitment for the whole family.”

Marisa Fischetti has gone from 2 ACL tears to a key cog in Syracuse’s offense (Daily Orange)

6 games into season, Syracuse employs 2-goalie system (Daily Orange)

Former Syracuse player Kris Joseph signs with pro team in Europe (Syracuse.com)

Andre Jackson has two official visits coming (ZagsBlog)