2018 Syracuse Orange football team

American college football season

2018 Syracuse Orange football
Camping World Bowl champion
Camping World Bowl, W 34–18 vs. West Virginia
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 15
Record10–3 (6–2 ACC)
Head coach
  • Dino Babers (3rd season)
Offensive coordinatorMike Lynch (1st season)
Offensive schemeVeer and shoot
Defensive coordinatorBrian Ward (3rd season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumCarrier Dome
Seasons
← 2017
2019 →
2018 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Clemson x$#^   8 0     15 0  
No. 15 Syracuse   6 2     10 3  
NC State   5 3     9 4  
Boston College   4 4     7 5  
Wake Forest   3 5     7 6  
Florida State   3 5     5 7  
Louisville   0 8     2 10  
Coastal Division
Pittsburgh x   6 2     7 7  
Georgia Tech   5 3     7 6  
Miami (FL)   4 4     7 6  
Virginia   4 4     8 5  
Virginia Tech   4 4     6 7  
Duke   3 5     8 5  
North Carolina   1 7     2 9  
Championship: Clemson 42, Pittsburgh 10
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Syracuse Orange football team represented Syracuse University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Orange were led by third-year head coach Dino Babers and played their home games at the Carrier Dome. They competed as members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. After being picked to finish last in the preseason media poll, Syracuse went 10–3, 6–2 in ACC play to finish in 2nd place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Camping World Bowl, where they defeated West Virginia.

Recruiting

Position key

Back B Center C Cornerback CB Defensive back DB
Defensive end DE Defensive lineman DL Defensive tackle DT End E
Fullback FB Guard G Halfback HB Kicker K
Kickoff returner KR Offensive tackle OT Offensive lineman OL Linebacker LB
Long snapper LS Punter P Punt returner PR Quarterback QB
Running back RB Safety S Tight end TE Wide receiver WR

Recruits

The Orange signed a total of 18 recruits.

US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Gabe Horan
TE
Baldwinsville, New York Charles W. Baker High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 260 lb (120 kg) Feb 9, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Atrilleon Williams
DB
White Plains, New York Archbishop Stepinac High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Mar 27, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Cooper Lutz
WR
Reading, Pennsylvania Berks Catholic High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Apr 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Juan Wallace
LB
Washington, D.C. IMG Academy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) May 4, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Akeem Dixon
RB
Vero Beach, Florida Vero Beach High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 235 lb (107 kg) May 17, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Anthony Queeley
WR
Orlando, Florida Lake Nona High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jun 18, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Willem Froumy
OT
Exeter, New Hampshire Exeter High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 290 lb (130 kg) Jun 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Taj Harris
WR
Palmyra, New Jersey Palmyra High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jun 24, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Edward Hendrix
WR
Washington, D.C. H.D. Woodson High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Aug 16, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Cameron Jonas
S
West Palm Beach, Florida Dwyer High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 187 lb (85 kg) Aug 21, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Qadir White
OT
Bronx, New York Cardinal Hayes High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 334 lb (151 kg) Aug 24, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Andre Cisco
S
Valley Stream, New York IMG Academy 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 186 lb (84 kg) Dec 8, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Tre Allison
LB
Tyler, Texas John Tyler High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 212 lb (96 kg) Dec 10, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Lakiem Williams
LB
Tacoma, Washington Butte College 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Dec 10, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Carlos Vettorello
OG
Detroit, Michigan University of Detroit Jesuit High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 277 lb (126 kg) Dec 12, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Chance Amie
QB
Tyler, Texas Robert E. Lee High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 191 lb (87 kg) Dec 20, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Jarveon Howard
RB
Columbia, Mississippi East Marion High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Jan 29, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Caleb Okechukwu
DE
Washington, D.C. St. John's College High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Feb 7, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Syracuse Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Maxwell Award[1] Eric Dungey QB SR
John Mackey Award[2] Ravian Pierce TE SR
Ray Guy Award[3] Sterling Hofrichter P JR
Paul Hornung Award[4] Sean Riley WR/KR JR
Wuerffel Trophy[5] Kielan Whitner LB SR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[6] Eric Dungey QB SR
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award[7] Koda Martin OL SR

ACC media poll

The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018.

Media poll (Atlantic)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Clemson 1,031 (145)
2 Florida State 789 (1)
3 NC State 712 (2)
4 Boston College 545
5 Louisville 422
6 Wake Forest 413
7 Syracuse 232

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 316:00 p.m.at Western Michigan*CBSSNW 55–4220,628
September 83:30 p.m.Wagner*ACCN ExtraW 62–1029,395
September 1512:00 p.m.Florida State
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
ESPNW 30–737,457
September 224:00 p.m.UConn*
ESPNewsW 51–2136,632
September 2912:00 p.m.at No. 3 Clemson
ABCL 23–2780,122
October 612:20 p.m.at PittsburghACCNL 37–44 OT37,100
October 2012:20 p.m.North Carolinadagger
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
ACCNW 40–37 2OT35,210
October 277:00 p.m.No. 22 NC State
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
ESPN2W 51–4140,769
November 312:00 p.m.at Wake ForestNo. 19ACCRSNW 41–2426,136
November 97:00 p.m.LouisvilleNo. 13
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
ESPN2W 54–2342,797
November 172:30 p.m.vs. No. 3 Notre Dame*No. 12NBCL 3–3648,104
November 2412:00 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 20ESPNW 42–2134,959
December 285:15 p.m.vs. No. 16 West Virginia*No. 20ESPNW 34–1841,125

Schedule Source:[8]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRV22131219181715
CoachesRVRVRVRVRV24131219181715
CFPNot released191312202020Not released

Game summaries

At Western Michigan

Syracuse at Western Michigan
1 234Total
Orange 24 10147 55
Broncos 7 0287 42
Scoring summary
111:36SUJamal Custis 27-yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 7–0
19:32SUAndre Szmyt 26-yard field goalSU 10–0
16:39SUMoe Neal 1-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 17–0
13:10WMULeVante Bellamy 7-yard run (Josh Grant kick)SU 17–7
10:51SUMoe Neal 3-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 24–7
211:53SUDontae Strickland 1-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 31–7
29:52SUAndre Szmyt 43-yard field goalSU 34–7
314:06WMUD'Wayne Eskridge 21-yard pass from Jon Wassink (Josh Grant kick)SU 34–14
37:32WMUD'Wayne Eskridge 84-yard pass from Jon Wassink (Josh Grant kick)SU 34–21
35:19WMULeVante Bellamy 64-yard run (Josh Grant kick)SU 34–28
32:45SUJamal Custis 21-yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 41–28
31:56WMUJon Wassink 4-yard run (Josh Grant kick)SU 41–35
30:48SUDontae Strickland 1-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 48–35
414:46SUEric Dungey 27-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 55–35
42:50WMUJayden Reed 17-yard pass from Jon Wassink (Josh Grant kick)SU 55–42

Wagner

Wagner at Syracuse
1 234Total
Seahawks 7 003 10
Orange 21 24143 62
  • Date: September 8
  • Location:
    Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 3:35 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:22
  • Game attendance: 29,395
  • Referee: Todd Boyd
  • TV announcers:
    Play-by-Play: Doug Sherman
    Analyst: Al Groh
Scoring summary
111:47SUSean Riley 16-yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 7–0
19:47SUDontae Strickland 1-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 14–0
17:56WAGChris Woodard 24-yard pass from T.J. Linta (Eric Silvester kick)SU 14–7
10:38SUTaj Harris 24-yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 21–7
29:43SURavian Pierce 3-yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 28–7
25:48SUAndre Szmyt 38-yard field goalSU 31–7
24:23SUTrill Williams 2-yard return of a blocked punt (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 34–7
20:34SUNykeim Johnson 28-yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 41–7
313:07SUDontae Strickland 20-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 48–7
36:25SUJamal Custis 4-yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 55–7
412:53WAGEric Silvester 26-yard field goalSU 55–10
411:45SUAndre Szmyt 50-yard field goalSU 62–10

Florida State

Florida State at Syracuse
1 234Total
Seminoles 0 007 7
Orange 3 31410 30
Scoring summary
17:23SUAndre Szmyt 22-yard field goalSU 3–0
21:40SUAndre Szmyt 19-yard field goalSU 6–0
36:55SUTommy DeVito 3-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 13–0
33:33SURavian Pierce 3-yard pass from Tommy DeVito (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 20–0
412:55SUAndre Szmyt 23-yard field goalSU 23–0
46:16FSUDeondre Francois 2-yard run (Ricky Aguayo kick)SU 23–7
43:19FSUDontae Strickland 13-yard run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 30–7

UConn

UConn at Syracuse
1 234Total
Huskies 7 707 21
Orange 24 71010 51
Scoring summary
109:15SUEric Dungey 2 yd run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 0–7
106:24SUEric Dungey 9 yd run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 0–14
103:53SUGabe Horan 7 yd pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 0–21
103:43UCONNDavid Pindell 75 yd run (Michael Tarbutt kick)SU 7–21
101:52SUAndre Szmyt 33 yd FGSU 7–24
211:41UCONNZavier Scott 2 yd pass from David Pindell (Michael Tarbutt Kick)SU 14–24
209:10SUEric Dungey 1 yd run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 14–31
310:35SUSean Riley 69 yd punt return (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 14–38
304:27SUAndre Szmyt 27 yd FGSU 14–41
414:18UCONNTyler Davis 26 yd pass from Marvin Washington (Michael Tarbutt kick)SU 21–41
411:21SUSean Riley 49 yd pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 21–48
407:43SUAndre Szmyt 25 yd FGSU 21–51

At Clemson

Syracuse at Clemson
1 234Total
Orange 6 1007 23
No. 3 Tigers 7 0614 27
  • Date: September 29
  • Location:
    Memorial Stadium
    Clemson, SC
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 80,121
Scoring summary
109:49SUAndre Szmyt 35 yd FGSU 3–0
108:26SUAndre Szmyt 51 yd FGSU 6–0
100:54CLEMTravis Etienne 1 yd run (Greg Huegel kick)CLEM 6–7
207:31SUEric Dungey 1 yd run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 13–7
200:24SUAndre Szmyt 32 yd FGSU 16–7
304:09CLEMGreg Huegel 43 yd FGSU 16–10
302:13CLEMGreg Huegel 37 yd FGSU 16–13
412:58SUEric Dungey 1 yd run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 23–13
411:08CLEMTravis Etienne 26 yd run (Greg Huegel kick)SU 23–20
400:41CLEMTravis Etienne 2 yd run (Greg Huegel kick)CLEM 23–27

At Pittsburgh

Syracuse at Pittsburgh
1 234OTTotal
Orange 14 31460 37
Panthers 14 67107 44
  • Date: October 6
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 12:21 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 4:31
  • Game attendance: 37,100
  • Game weather: 82°F • SW 8 • Mostly Sunny
  • Referee: David Epperley
  • TV announcers (Raycom):
    Play-by-Play: Tom Werme
    Analyst: Dave Archer
    Sideline: Lericia Harris
Scoring summary
110:54SUAaron Hackett 1 yard pass from Eric Dungey (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 7–0
16:32SUJarveon Howard 2 yard TD run (Andre Szmyt kick)SU 14–0
15:47PITTQadree Ollison 69 yard TD run (Alex Kessman Kick)SU 14–7
14:21PITTDane Jackson 35 yard fumble return for TD (Alex Kessman Kick)TIED 14–14
212:26PITTAlex Kessman 54 yard field goalPITT 14–17
26:50PITTAlex Kessman 55 yard field goalPITT 14–20
21:30SUAndre Szmyt 33 yard field goalPITT 17–20
314:12PITTRafael Araujo-Lopes 68 yard TD pass from Kenny Pickett (Alex Kessman Kick)PITT 17–27
38:12SUJarveon Howard 5 yard TD run (Andre Szmyt Kick)PITT 24–27
30:21SUEric Dungey 21 yard TD run (Andre Szmyt Kick)SU 31–27
411:11SUAndre Szmyt 29 yard field goalSU 34–27
47:51PITTDarrin Hall 7 yard TD run (Alex Kessman Kick)TIED 34–34
45:53SUAndre Szmyt 54 yard field goalSU 37–34
40:08PITTAlex Kessman 45 yard field goalTIED 37–37
OTPITTDarrin Hall 3 yard TD run (Alex Kessman kick )PITT 37–44

North Carolina

North Carolina at Syracuse
1 234OT2OTTotal
Tar Heels 7 017373 37
Orange 0 137776 40
  • Date: October 6
  • Location:
    Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 12:20 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 4:07
  • Game attendance: 35,210
  • Television network: Raycom
Scoring summary
110:07NCNewsome, D 6 yard pass from Elliott, N (Jones, F kick)NC 7–0
210:58SUSzmyt, A. 25 yardd field goalNC 7–3
21:56SUElmore, C. 1 yard run (Szmyt, A. kick)SU 7–10
20:00SUSzmyt, A. 46 yard field goalSU 7–13
314:06SUDungey, E. 16 yard run (Szmyt, A. kick)SU 7–20
310:52NCWilliams, A. 12 yard run (Jones, F kick)SU 14–20
36:02NCNewsome, D. 75 yard punt return (Jones, F kick)NC 21–20
30:06NCJones, F. 34 yard field goalNC 24–20
410:15NCJones, F. 25 yard field goalPITT 27–20
41:39SUJohnson, N. 42 yard pass from DeVito, T. (Szmyt, A. kick)TIED 27–27
OTSUCustis, J. 25 yard pass from DeVito, T. (Szmyt, A. kick)SU 34–27
OTNCCorrales, B. 9 yard pass from Elliott, N. (Jones, F. kick)TIED 34–34
OT2NCJones, F. 48 yard field goalNC 37–34
OT2SUPierce, R. 4 yard pass from DeVito, T.SU 37–40

NC State

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 22 Wolfpack 7 13 7 14 41
Orange 24 3 14 10 51

At Wake Forest

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 22 Orange 14 7 14 6 41
Demon Deacons 10 0 14 0 24

Louisville

1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 7 7 9 23
No. 13 Orange 7 30 7 10 54

Vs. Notre Dame

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 3 Fighting Irish 13 7 9 7 36
No. 12 Orange 0 0 0 3 3

At Boston College

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 19 Orange 14 14 7 7 42
Eagles 7 7 7 0 21

Vs. West Virginia (Camping World Bowl)

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 15 Mountaineers 3 9 6 0 18
No. 17 Orange 7 7 3 17 34

2019 NFL Draft

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
7 245 Chris Slayton DT New York Giants

References

  1. ^ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  2. ^ "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ray Guy Award preseason watch list unveiled". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  5. ^ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  7. ^ "2018 Nominations The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award" (PDF). August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "2018 Syracuse Orange Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
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