Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
What came out was a bullhorn from last season's fall outdoor camp. There were microphones and speakers used by Fran Brown as players warmed up inside the Ensley Athletic Center on Syracuse football's first day of spring ball.
Wearing a Backward Gate lacrosse hat, Brown ran around the indoor grass field, working primarily on defensive backs but also hovering around other areas. He mentioned the adjustment that comes with going from being a defensive position coach to being in charge of a Power 5 program and being ready to plan ahead. He and his staff recently had to change their practice plans and were able to do so thanks to their preparation.
While this is about the side of the ball that he doesn't coach, Brown said he's happy to see offensive players already moving into position. He now tries to watch the game from both sides of the ball.
“I know where to look in practice to see if this kid can play,” Brown said.
The new head coach is just one of many new faces and returning players leading the program, including a new defensive coordinator, strength and conditioning staff, pass rushers and receivers. Some players changed their numbers, such as Jayden Bellamy with number 1 and Deuce Chesnutt with number 0.
Here are some more observations from SU football's first day of spring baseball.
New No. 6
The biggest new contributor on the field is undoubtedly the quarterback position. During the stretch line, all of Syracuse's offensive players were lined up based on the position they played and the spot on the depth chart they held. On the quarterback front was Kyle McCord, who transferred from Ohio State to replace Garrett Schrader.
Tight end Orondo Gadsden, speaking to reporters for the first time since Lisfranc was injured last September, said McCord moves the ball a little faster than Schröder. But Brown said McCord was able to step in as a leader by being himself. And while McCord has receiving options that will be fun, Brown said McCord has to be the leader.
“You can forget about things because that's football. The monotony of football is always up and down,” Brown said. “The only thing left was to go with the flow of the game and keep everyone at a certain level of composure.”
Evolving reception room
For a position group that has struggled to maintain health and consistency, Syracuse's wide receivers have undergone a bit of a roster makeover through the transfer portal. Former Georgia wide receivers Jackson Meeks and Zied Haynes both transferred to SU and immediately became top QB targets.
Haynes caught passes on deep post routes, but he also excelled on short break-in routes.
“I've never seen him at the same time as me because I was on the field with him,” Gadsden said. “But from what I saw, Zied caught a touchdown at the end of practice. Meeks, I don't think he lost reps all day. So we're going to be dangerous.”
But while Haynes and Meeks stood out from the start, the position group is currently without Damian Alford, who was fired in February. In a now-deleted post, Damien Alford said he learned of his termination through social media.
Asked for the first time since his firing, Brown said Alford needs to do what's best for him to be successful. He said the dismissal was a “mutual agreement” and was in the best interest of Alford.
“He just wanted to change,” Brown said. “It had nothing to do with teammates or people. He was happy with the quarterback he had there.”
Return of Gadsden
Just as McCord was at the beginning of the quarterback stretch line, Gadsden was also placed at tight end, right in front of Dan Villari, who became the focal point of the offense late in the 2023 season.
Gadsden caught passes from McCord, Braden Davis and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, but said he needs a little more practice to get back into rhythm with his signal callers. Gadsden worked on running routes to the middle of the field and deep into the field. Gadsden isn't “100%” yet, he said, but his goal is to repeat what he accomplished two years ago. Or even more.
“There are still some things and steps we have to go through,” Gadsden said. “And it's going to take the next month or two to get back to 100%.”
Published March 21, 2024 at 1:18 p.m.
Contact Henry: [email protected]
