10 Honored for Academic Success

Ten members of the Syracuse football team were honored for their success in the classroom in addition to the field.

LeQuint Allen, Dakota Davis, Brady Denaburg, CJ Hayes, Wes Hoeh, Courtney Jackson, Isaiah Johnson, Derek McDonald, Garrett Shrader and Carlos Vettorello were all named to the All-ACC Academic Team. The honor is presented to student-athletes who have met the requisite GPA and participation requirements. The ACC honor roll, which honors all student-athletes with over a 3.0 GPA, regardless of the number of games they participated in, will be announced this summer.

Davis, who is getting his master’s in business administration from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, was a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist this season. Considered the academic Heisman, the Campbell Trophy is the most prestigious academic honor in college football. He earned his undergraduate degree in health and exercise science. Davis graduates again this spring having played in 52 games with 37 starts on the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, Davis was responsible for just one sack allowed this season in 451 snaps of pass protection. It is his second selection to the All-ACC Academic Team.

Shrader is majoring in communication and rhetorical studies. A team captain and Maxwell Award Watch List member this season, Shrader completed nearly 65-percent of his passes this season, throwing for 2,640 yards and 17 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. His completion percentage was second in the ACC this season and the third-best single season mark in program history. He enters the 2023 season as one-of-five active FBS quarterbacks with over 5,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards in their career.

Vettorello is another two-time member of the All-ACC Academic Team. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and is now obtaining a Master’s degree in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises. He started all-13 games at center this season, helping lead the offense to significant improvements in nearly every offensive statistical category.

One-of-two true freshmen to earn ACC academic honors from the Orange, Allen ran for 274 yards on 41 carries in his rookie campaign. In his first collegiate start in the Pinstripe Bowl after Sean Tucker declared for the draft, Allen recorded the most receptions by a running back in program history (11), which was also the most by any player regardless of position in over two years. He tallied 154 yards from scrimmage in the contest.

Denaburg is the other true freshman on the list from ‘Cuse. He is majoring in engineering and led the team’s kickoff duties this year. As a rookie, he managed to help the Orange finish 10th in the conference in kickoff return defense.

Johnson emerged into the starting lineup at cornerback after Garrett Williams suffered a season-ending injury. A graduate transfer from Dartmouth, he is pursing a Master’s degree in political science. He had 53 tackles, an interception and a PBU on the season, and also was the team’s leading tackler on special teams plays, with six.

McDonald is another player who emerged into the starting lineup following an injury. He made an immediate impact with an interception in the season opener vs. Louisville, following the season-ending injury to Stefon Thompson. He appeared in nine games with eight starts, registering 43 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a pair of pass breakups to go along with his interception. He is majoring in broadcast and digital journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Hayes is earning his Master’s degree in instructional design, development and evaluation. A graduate transfer from Michigan State, he appeared in eight games this season as a key contributor on special teams.

Hoeh switched positions to help the Orange this year. After Chris Elmore was sidelined with an injury, he moved from offensive line to a fullback/tight end role in his absence. He appeared in the final 12 games of the season and was also a key special teamer in addition to his role within the offense.

Jackson was enrolled in the instructional design, development and evaluation master’s program this year. He already holds an undergraduate degree from Syracuse in communication and rhetorical studies and elected to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer at the conclusion of the 2022 regular season. He concludes his Orange career with 63 catches for 662 yards.

The 2023 ‘Cuse football schedule was announced by the ACC on Monday night. The schedule has six quality home games in the JMA Wireless Dome, which featured sold out crowds in two of the final three home games last season. Existing season ticket holders can now renew their tickets on their MyCuse Account to be part of the electric atmosphere in the building once again. Fans interested in becoming a new season ticket holder can place their deposits and reserve their spot at Cuse.com/Tickets. There will be no price increases in 2023, while some sections will see price decreases as the $99 season ticket offer will expand to additional sections this season.

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