:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69570489/usa_today_15138215.0.jpg)
Name: Aman Greenwood
Position: Safety
Year: (Redshirt) Freshman
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 183 lbs.
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
High School: St. John’s College
2020 stats: Greenwood contributed quite a bit for the Syracuse Orange last year. He appeared in 10 games, and started the final seven at safety. On the season, Aman totaled 18 tackles and four pass break-ups on the year (which were tired for third on the team, only behind Garrett Williams and Ifeatu Melifonwu).
2021 projections: You should plan to see a lot of Greenwood at safety once again, likely returning to the free safety spot he occupied for the majority of last season. Looking at PFF data from 2020, he’s the third-highest rated returning defensive back in coverage for Syracuse. So yeah, strong chance he’s an integral part of what the Orange are doing.
How’d he get here?: Syracuse was able to land him in spite of offers from numerous other Power Five teams — including Michigan, Missouri, Boston College, Pitt, North Carolina and a host of others.
What’d recruiting sites say?: Everyone said three stars. Related: Everyone was smart.
Money quote: Here’s the high praise Greenwood offered up for the Orange after he committed a couple years back (via Rivals):
“Really everything made me pick Syracuse. They were my first offer and that factored a lot into my consideration. I weighed my pros and cons and I knew I wanted to play early, almost right away, and I know I can do that at Syracuse. I can get right on the field there and show my abilities. The coaches make it a family atmosphere there as well.”
Twitter feed: @SmurphSteezy
Tweets of wonder: See? There were some good things to come out of last season.
Aman Greenwood with an excellent open field tackle to get the third down stop.
— Anthony Dabbundo (@AnthonyDabbundo) December 5, 2020
Of Syracuse DBs who have played more than 100 snaps this year, Greenwood is the second-highest graded tackler, per @PFF
What movie would Dino recommend for him?: Leaning all the way into his nickname, “Smurph,” we opt for 2011’s The Smurfs with Neil Patrick Harris. Certainly wouldn’t call this one good, even amid a ton of older cartoon adaptations at the time. But the cast wasn’t half bad, with Harris joined by the voice work of Hank Azaria, Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Tim Gunn and Sofia Vergara, among others.
- Interesting nugget o’interest: Among the many alums from St. John’s College High School in D.C., one of the most notable is Under Armour founder Kevin Plank (who’s also very active with Maryland athletics).
Let’s get a look at ya: Unfortunately nothing from last season, but Hudl highlights are always there to catch you when you fail to find clips.