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It’s time for the Syracuse Orange to welcome their newest freshmen to Central New York! Syracuse will add recruits to the program between Wednesday through Friday, but expect most players to sign on Wednesday. As each signing is confirmed, we’ll post profiles here on TNIAAM. Right now we look at Darian “Duce” Chestnut, who looks to follow the recent Orange lineage of NFL-caliber defensive backs.
Twitter feed: @BallgameDuce
Hometown: Camden, N.J.
Previous School: Camden
Stats: 5’11”, 180 lbs.
Commitment date: August 2, 2020
Position: Defensive Back
Ratings: Four stars from Rivals, three stars from 247 and ESPN. Chestnut was a four-star on 247 but has since been downgraded.
Other Offers: Chestnut had a solid top five that included Michigan State, Louisville, Miami (FL) and Rutgers. Other schools interested in Chestnut included Baylor, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Ole Miss, and West Virginia, among others.
Dino’s projected nickname: “‘Duce’ Chestnut will be roasting even without an open fire.”
Player Breakdown: While he’s played all over the secondary, you might be looking at Trill Williams’s replacement. Chestnut has the speed to close down on fast slot receivers and showcases an uncanny ability to place himself between the pass and the intended target. He also shows great angles of attack when tackling running backs coming from the backfield. Syracuse will have a decision to make on whether Chestnut plays cornerback or safety. He might even be a candidate for the rover position, considering how deep he likes to play off receivers. In any case, don’t be surprised if we see Chestnut’s name on the two-deep come August in some capacity.
Highlights: