Syracuse Football 2022 Breakout Candidates

Which Orange players could step up this season?

Mike McAllister | Aug 28, 2022

Syracuse Football 2022 Breakout Candidates /

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Syracuse football is set to start the 2022 season in a matter of days. Here are three players on offense and three on defense would break out for the Orange.

OFFENSIVE

D'Marcus Adams - Wide Receiver: The speedy receiver transferred in from Florida Atlantic. He has had a strong camp and has worked under new Syracuse wide receivers coach Mike Johnson during his time at FAU. He could be the fastest player on the team, and it would not be a big surprise if Syracuse utilized that speed to stretch the field.

LeQuint Allen - Running Back: Sean Tucker is going to be the workhorse of the Syracuse offense. But he now has a viable backup who can make plays in his own right in freshman LeQuint Allen. Do not be surprised if Allen comes in and has some success to provide hope for life after Tucker. Allen had a strong spring and even better fall camp to edge out transfer Juwaun Price as the primary backup.

Oronde Gadsden - Tight End: Gadsden has had a strong camp, has a great frame at 6-5 and could provide a steady target for Garrett Shrader this season. The second year player is one to watch in a receiving group looking for a number one option, even if that comes from the tight end position.

DEFENSIVE

Jatius Geer - Defensive End: The biggest question on the defense is the line. Syracuse lost all three starters from last year's team. Geer has flashed during training camp as someone who has potential to be a strong pass rusher. Do not be surprised if he helps solidify the line by providing much needed pass rushing ability.

Terry Lockett - Defensive Tackle: Lockett came on towards the end of last season, earning more and more snaps down the stretch. Now he is likely to take on a larger role. He may be inexperienced, but he is strong at the point of attack and has a quick first step. Lockett will need to be good for the Orange this season.

Alijah Clark - Defensive Back: The Rutgers transfer is in a talented and deep secondary, but is one of the most talented players in it. Expect Clark to play multiple positions within the secondary and show why he was such a coveted recruit in the 2020 class.

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Published Aug 28, 2022

MIKE MCALLISTER

Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.