Syracuse Football: hosts Pro Day 3/20 and begins Spring Practice 3/21

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Orange football team will hold its annual Pro Day this afternoon (3/20) at the Ensley Athletic Center. Beginning at 1:00pm, nine graduating members of the program will have the opportunity to showcase their skills one final time in SU uniforms. Those expected to attend are:

• Matthew Bergeron – Offensive Lineman
• Aaron Bolinsky – Long Snapper
• DeVaughn Cooper – Wide Receiver
• Chris Elmore – Fullback
• C.J. Hayes – Wide Receiver
• Mikel Jones – Linebacker
• Andre Szmyt – Kicker
• Sean Tucker – Runningback
• Garrett Williams – Cornerback

It’s one of Syracuse’s deepest graduating classes in years, with Bergeron, Jones, Tucker, and Williams all having serious chances to be selected in the NFL Draft. Bergeron is projected to be taken in the second round by most major mock drafts, while Williams, who is coming off a torn ACL, is predicted to be a third round pick.

This should be a good opportunity for Tucker to show that his legs haven’t slowed down since the fall, when he rushed for over 1,000 yards the second season in a row. He was previously invited to the NFL Combine along with Bergeron and Williams, but did not participate in most of the drills.

The last time three Orange players were taken in the Draft was ten years ago; OT Justin Pugh, QB Ryan Nassib, and DB Shamarko Thomas were all selected in 2013. You’d have to go all the way back to 2006 to find four SU alums being picked in the same year. 

Meanwhile, the returning ‘Cuse players will get to work tomorrow (3/21) as spring practice kicks off. The team will have practices every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for the next five weeks, capped off by an exhibition game on Friday, April 21.

Head Coach Dino Babers will speak with the media every Tuesday during this period, and several players from both sides of the ball will also share some thoughts throughout camp. 

With Quarterback Garrett Shrader out for the spring while recovering from shoulder surgery, all eyes should turn to the battle to be his successor. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson appeared in two games last season and had some flashes of talent, while Justin Lamson had a rocket arm in 2022 spring practice but missed the entire fall season. One of the two sophomores is expected to take over the offense when Shrader graduates after this season, so this is our earliest indication of who is the favorite to do so.

Article by Michael Ostrowski