Who’s getting early All-ACC looks for Syracuse football this summer?

Despite the uncertainty around sports’ return this summer and into the fall, sports media marches on. That includes season preview items — something we’ve also continued to do here, even with some tweaks. The ACC itself will be doing the same thing next month, when it hosts a virtual kickoff event to replace the usual Charlotte-based football media days.

Before that gets going though, All-ACC teams are already coming together, including one from ESPN’s David Hale, who created both a first- and second-team on Twitter this week after wrapping up conference position rankings. The Syracuse Orange had just one player included: Kicker Andre Szmyt, who made the second team. Hale also notes several Orange players also in consideration, including Andre Cisco, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Taj Harris.

I know you’re asking “what gives?” at this juncture because Cisco in particular is a potential first round draft pick and former All-American. Yes, I had questions at first too, but Hale does know his stuff — especially around Syracuse, given that he’s an alum like many of us. He even discussed the Cisco “snub” a bit further, and... he makes a compelling case. Some of those lower counting stats are a product of Cisco’s injury absence last year and other raw data shortcomings are just because of the high risk/high reward style of play. Still, reasonable to see why some may leave him off, even if I (and most of you) wouldn’t.

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

‘Anyone can spot LeBron’: The making of Pistons GM Troy Weaver (The Athletic)

Weaver, a prophet dressed as an assistant coach, delivered as Syracuse hoisted the national trophy in 2003, winning the championship behind a superstar freshman in Anthony and a storied group of underclassmen who Weaver helped shepherd to upstate New York. Boeheim had captured the NCAA title that had evaded him all those years. Anthony, a year later, was a top-5 pick in the NBA Draft.

Syracuse basketball players set to return, will be Covid tested; Jim Boeheim is ’100 percent’ coaching (Syracuse.com)

News of positive tests from returning college and professional athletes surface daily and Boeheim said SU likely would not escape that reality. He keeps reading and hearing about how positive Covid-19 test results impact the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions, but wants more public reckoning of what happens to younger people who test positive. Those kind of studies, he believes, can help guide colleges.

USMNT’s road to World Cup: Altidore, Reyna, Green and others who should play a role under Berhalter (ESPN)

DF Miles Robinson, Atlanta United: ... Robinson is a sturdy one-on-one defender and plus athlete. His passing is inferior to maybe only Tim Ream’s among the primary USMNT centre-back contenders, and his ball recovery ability is behind maybe only that of Aaron Long or Walker Zimmerman. He’s younger than all three of those players and might already be the most well-rounded of the bunch. It’s going to be hard to keep him out of the lineup moving forward.

‘Guilty until proven innocent’: 3 ex-Syracuse football players on police brutality, athlete activism, amateurism (Syracuse.com)

Three former Syracuse football players joined The Post-Standard/syracuse.com for a conversation about systemic racism in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Zaire Franklin, Keon Lyn and KJ Ruff were gracious enough to share their experiences as Black men growing up in America as well as their perspectives on the state of the nation, which is experiencing nationwide protests.

David Hale’s All-ACC first- and second-team for 2020 (Twitter)

Syracuse football’s Hawaiian ties hooked OL Austyn Kauhi: ‘That’s something I was looking for’ (Syracuse.com)

Ranking the Top 30 ACC players for 2020 (247Sports)

Finding a comparison for each of Syracuse’s four newcomers (The Athletic)

The concept of ‘team’ takes on an even bigger meaning as TFC gears up for Orlando (Toronto FC)

ACC football 2020 predictions (Athlon Sports)

Chargers 90-in-90: OL Koda Martin (Bolts From the Blue)