Get to Know Your Orange Man: #13, QB Tommy DeVito

Name: Tommy DeVito

Position: Quarterback

Year: Redshirt Junior

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 208 lbs.

Hometown: Cedar Grove, N.J.

High School: Don Bosco Prep

2020 stats: DeVito only played in four games last season, but he steadily improved as the season progressed. He went 50% (48-96) on passes with 593 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. DeVito’s season ended towards the end of the Duke game, where he suffered a lower-body injury.

2021 projections: Some fans will be clamoring for Garrett Shrader to start, but DeVito is by far and away the best option to start behind center this year. He knows the system and knows what Dino Babers wants. The coaching staff is even reportedly changing the playbook a bit to tailor to his strengths. DeVito should be the starting quarterback to start the season. Whether he stays in that role is a different question, but he’ll be given all the opportunities possible to succeed.

How’d he get here?: DeVito was quite an early commit to Syracuse, but as his stock grew, more schools tried to court the quarterback away from the Orange. Boston College, Maryland, Rutgers, and Wake Forest were some of the Power Five schools that offered DeVito.

What’d recruiting sites say?: Four stars from 247sports and ESPN, only three stars from Rivals. Each site saw DeVito as a top 15 player in New Jersey.

Money quote: To those who still think Shrader will start, Babers settles that argument here:

“It’s definitely DeVito,” Babers told syracuse.com. “We’re going to have to see how it settles, but I would say he has an advantage because he’s been here longer.”

Twitter feed: @tommydevito007

Tweets of wonder: Could anything be more Jersey?

What movie would Dino recommend for him?: Shoutout to the TNIAAM comic wing, as we’re going with “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Tommy Lee Jones plays Colonel Chester Phillips in that movie, who serves as Steve Rogers’ commanding officer.

Interesting nugget o’interest: While DeVito is mainly known for his arm, he made some heads turn and eyes blink after commenting on Alabama’s offense during the 2021 NCAA Championship Game. Perhaps he’s convinced Sterlin Gilbert to incorporate some of those ideas into the Syracuse offense.

Let’s get a look at ya: Not too many highlights from a 1-10 season and four games played, so let’s flashback to 2019.