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Fran Brown Reveals Major Syracuse Football News During Coach's Show
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- Fran Brown Reveals Major Syracuse Football News During Coach's Show
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Each week during the regular season, Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown is scheduled to appear on his own coach's show. The locally produced one hour show is live at Meier's Creek, a Central New York brewery.
The show happens on Thursday's most weeks, but is sometimes moved based upon the Orange's schedule for that week. Fans are encouraged to interact with Brown during the show.
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On this Thursday's edition, Brown offered an update on two impactful players for the Orange heading into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener against Cal on Saturday.
SU is 1-0 following a 66-3 win over New Hampshire in the opener.
Here's what you need to know.
Latest update on the status of Justus Ross-Simmons
Brown said that fifth-year wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons will play on Saturday against the Golden Bears.
Over the course of the last two months, Ross-Simmons has gone from ineligible to eligible to ineligible to back to eligible. Ross-Simmons has been granted a fifth year of eligibility via a recent court ruling that grants athletes from the high school Class of 2022 another year.
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During his two seasons in Central New York, the 6-foot-3 pass catcher has hauled in 29 catches for 514 yards and seven touchdowns. He played at Colorado State before Syracuse.
His presence will help deepen a wide receiver room that got eight catches from Umari Hatcher in the opener, and no more than three from anyone else.
Latest update on the status of Calvin Russell III
Brown also noted that first-year wide receiver Calvin Russell will be tested on Friday to see if he is able to play on Saturday. Russell was listed as questionable on the most recent depth chart. He appeared at practice on Thursday.
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One of the highest-rated recruits ever to sign with Syracuse football, the five-star prospect also competed for the basketball team this past winter.
In March, Russell suffered a torn Achilles injury during spring practice.
This injury usually takes 6-12 months to return from. If Russell really does return, his recovery would have taken less than six months. It would be truly amazing.
As our own Brady Farkas noted earlier this week, Russell's circumstances during his college career have changed quickly because of the new "aged-based eligibility model."
The host of the coaches show, and play by play radio broadcaster of the Orange, Matt Park, offered his take on Russell on ESPN Radio Syracuse's 'Orange Nation.'
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"What we're dealing with here is a very gifted athlete. Very gifted."
What's next for the Syracuse football team?
After the impressive 66-3 victory in game one of the season , Syracuse will host California this Saturday. The game will mark the first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game for Syracuse. Kickoff is set for Saturday 3:30 p.m. ET inside the JMA Wireless Dome. SyracuseRoundtable will bring you coverage all day.
Cal lost its season opener to UCLA, 45-24, and will enter play at 0-1.
SyracuseRoundtable will have coverage leading up to kickoff and following the conclusion of the game.
