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What Players Could Have Special Teams Impact For Syracuse Football?
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- What Players Could Have Special Teams Impact For Syracuse Football?
(Tom Goslowski Roundtable Sports)
Syracuse football is continuing its training practices through the month of August with hopes of improving on the team's 3-9 record from last season.
All through training camp, players are working to find playing time and ways to impact the roster.
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One of the best ways to find playing time and that impact? That's through special teams, an often under-appreciated part of the game.
The Orange will likely need to be strong in this part of the game if they hope to improve in the manner they want. The potential improvement starts with the addition of new special teams coach Alex Bayer.
The Alex Bayer file
A former tight end at Bowling Green, Bayer was a two-time All-MAC selection who saw action for two seasons in the NFL. Bayer spent time with both the San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams during his professional career.
Following the end of his professional playing career, Bayer joined the coaching ranks, with stints at Bowling Green, Valparaiso, Wake Forest and Otterbein.
What players could have an impact on special teams for the Orange?
"There are a few guys. Demetres Samuel Jr. and Kerr (Davian Kerr) both did it last season. You got Ju'Juan Johnson back there as punt returners. You got Amare' Gough, we are training him. Shavane Anderson, we are training him."
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Samuel is one of the top players on the roster and will see most of his time at defensive back, but he could play at wide receiver and on special teams. Johnson is a transfer from LSU who could see good action at the running back position as well.
What does the kicking unit look like?
Tripp Woody is projected to be the team's starting kicker again this season. Woody started his career with the Iowa Hawkeyes before joining the Orange last season. In Woody's first season with Syracuse, he appeared in every game, making 12-of-14 field goal attempts, including a perfect 10-for-10 from inside of 40 yards. He also went 22-of-22 on extra points.
The projected starting punter is freshman Jimmy Gregg. Gregg was ranked as the No. 1 punter in the country, according to 247 Sports. The Orange lost standout Jack Stonehouse, who was cut by the Houston Texans earlier this summer.
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While the holder has yet to be announced, the snaps will likely come from newly converted long snapper Fran Brown Jr. A transfer from St. Francis, Brown, the son of the head coach Fran Brown Sr., recently converted to long snapper after beginning his career as a linebacker.
