Get to Know Your Orange Man: #34, DB Eric Coley

Position: Defensive Back

Year: Redshirt Junior

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 204 lbs

Hometown: Manlius, N.Y.

High School: Fayetteville-Manlius

2020 stats: Started the first game of the year at North Carolina, recording four tackles before missing the rest of the season due to injury.

2021 projections: With all the youth in Syracuse’s defensive backs, Coley is the veteran presence that will keep that group anchored. He was one of the three safeties (Andre Cisco and Trill Williams being the others) that knows exactly what Tony White wants in the 3-3-5, so expect him to be the leader of the secondary.

How’d he get here?: Many schools were interested in Coley, as Buffalo, Boston College, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Rutgers all submitted offers for the CNY high school graduate.

What’d recruiting sites say?: Three stars from 247sports and ESPN, but only two stars from Rivals. We’ll remember that.

Money quote: Coley was one of the many injuries that hampered the Orange secondary last year, and Syracuse AD John Wildhack noticed his absence.

“Look at our secondary, and Iffy (Melifonwu) had a terrific year. Garrett Williams, breakout redshirt freshman year, and then you’ve got three guys who were hurt. You got Andre (Cisco), a freak pregame injury. You’ve got Eric Coley and then Trill. If they’re healthy, you’ve got a secondary which would be as good as any secondary in the ACC, I would argue.”

Twitter feed: @E_too_col

Tweets of wonder: There was a time Coley wanted to play basketball in college instead of football, as evidence shows here:

What movie would Dino recommend for him?: Eric Bana is an underrated actor from Australia. One of my favorite roles that he played was the Romulan Nero in the “Star Trek” reboot in 2009.

Interesting nugget o’interest: Coley’s stepfather is Syracuse defensive line coach Vince Reynolds.

Let’s get a look at ya: Still living off Stephen Bailey’s old Oklahoma Drill videos.