SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Orange football team held its first public practice and scrimmage in front of approximately 2,900 fans on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The scrimmage was the centerpiece of Syracuse's annual Fan Fest, which included an exhibition men's soccer match between the Orange and Georgetown Hoyas, a barbecue for season ticket holders, selfie stations and more.
Syracuse ran approximately 60 plays with the offense going against the defense live for the first time in preseason camp. Here are some notes and observations:
HUNT FINISHES STRONG
Starting QB Terrel Hunt missed on a couple of passes early, but eventually found his rhythm. The Rosedale, N.Y. product finished the day 10-for-14 with three touchdowns, including two to Sean Avant. Hunt also connected with Steve Ishmael on a 10-yard scoring pass that represented the first points of the scrimmage. A couple of plays after the TD to Ishmael, Hunt showed good poise by picking up a dropped snap and zipping a strike to Avant, who slipped a tackle and took it into the end zone.
YOUNG GUNS
Veterans George Morris and Devante McFarlane figure to get the bulk of the carries in 2015, but running backs coach DeAndre Smith is developing a nice stable of young ball carries. Freshman RBJordan Fredericks, the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year in New York, is a powerful runner. He scored two touchdowns Saturday, the first from 18 yards out on an option play, and his second was a long sprint down the sideline on the last play of the scrimmage.
Rookie Jacob Hill also showed well. Only 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds, he has great speed and is fearless. He scored a long TD toward the end of the scrimmage, taking a handoff running left then reversing his field and outrunning the defense to the corner of the end zone.
CATCH THIS
Freshman hybrid back Tyrone Perkins should fit nicely in coordinator Tim Lester's offense. The hybrid position requires a bit everything, including being able to catch the ball out of the backfield or when lined up as a receiver. Perkins proved he has a reliable set of hands Saturday, making two nice catches during the 7-on-7 period before the scrimmage. The first was a tough grab in traffic over the middle. The second was on a go route down the sideline. Perkins also had a reception in the early portion of the scrimmage.
WILLIAMS HAS NOSE FOR THE FOOTBALL
Redshirt freshman S Rodney Williams turned heads during last year's preseason camp by making an interception and breaking up several passes in the team's scrimmage at Fort Drum. After being injured early in 2014 and missing the rest of the year, Williams appears to be back to his old self. The Cherry Hill, N.J. native intercepted a pair of passes Saturday. On the first, Williams read quarterback Austin Wilson the whole way and stepped in front of the pass to thwart a potential scoring drive. Later, Williams was in the right place at the right time to intercept a pass after it was deflected by cornerback Julian Whigham.
ODDS AND ENDS
DE Donnie Simmons had 1.5 sacks ... NT Rony Charles forced a fumble that was recovered by freshman S Kielan Whitner ... McFarlane and hybrid Ervin Philips also had touchdown runs for the offense. McFarlane scored from three yards out and Philips took it in from 15 ... Freshman Steven Clark saw the bulk of the first-team reps at nose tackle in place of Kayton Samuels who missed the scrimmage with a lower-body injury.
Syracuse ran approximately 60 plays with the offense going against the defense live for the first time in preseason camp. Here are some notes and observations:
HUNT FINISHES STRONG
Starting QB Terrel Hunt missed on a couple of passes early, but eventually found his rhythm. The Rosedale, N.Y. product finished the day 10-for-14 with three touchdowns, including two to Sean Avant. Hunt also connected with Steve Ishmael on a 10-yard scoring pass that represented the first points of the scrimmage. A couple of plays after the TD to Ishmael, Hunt showed good poise by picking up a dropped snap and zipping a strike to Avant, who slipped a tackle and took it into the end zone.
YOUNG GUNS
Veterans George Morris and Devante McFarlane figure to get the bulk of the carries in 2015, but running backs coach DeAndre Smith is developing a nice stable of young ball carries. Freshman RBJordan Fredericks, the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year in New York, is a powerful runner. He scored two touchdowns Saturday, the first from 18 yards out on an option play, and his second was a long sprint down the sideline on the last play of the scrimmage.
Rookie Jacob Hill also showed well. Only 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds, he has great speed and is fearless. He scored a long TD toward the end of the scrimmage, taking a handoff running left then reversing his field and outrunning the defense to the corner of the end zone.
CATCH THIS
Freshman hybrid back Tyrone Perkins should fit nicely in coordinator Tim Lester's offense. The hybrid position requires a bit everything, including being able to catch the ball out of the backfield or when lined up as a receiver. Perkins proved he has a reliable set of hands Saturday, making two nice catches during the 7-on-7 period before the scrimmage. The first was a tough grab in traffic over the middle. The second was on a go route down the sideline. Perkins also had a reception in the early portion of the scrimmage.
WILLIAMS HAS NOSE FOR THE FOOTBALL
Redshirt freshman S Rodney Williams turned heads during last year's preseason camp by making an interception and breaking up several passes in the team's scrimmage at Fort Drum. After being injured early in 2014 and missing the rest of the year, Williams appears to be back to his old self. The Cherry Hill, N.J. native intercepted a pair of passes Saturday. On the first, Williams read quarterback Austin Wilson the whole way and stepped in front of the pass to thwart a potential scoring drive. Later, Williams was in the right place at the right time to intercept a pass after it was deflected by cornerback Julian Whigham.
ODDS AND ENDS
DE Donnie Simmons had 1.5 sacks ... NT Rony Charles forced a fumble that was recovered by freshman S Kielan Whitner ... McFarlane and hybrid Ervin Philips also had touchdown runs for the offense. McFarlane scored from three yards out and Philips took it in from 15 ... Freshman Steven Clark saw the bulk of the first-team reps at nose tackle in place of Kayton Samuels who missed the scrimmage with a lower-body injury.
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