NFL-bound Offensive Tackle Sean Hickey has helped build a strong offensive line at Syracuse and the Orange will continue what Hickey started by bringing in a lot of talent in the trenches.  A key part of this new wave of offensive linemen is classmates from Fort Lauderdale; guard Sam Clausman and tackle Colin Byrne.
Clausman and Byrne are just two of five high-profile offensive line recruits that Syracuse has landed this year.  It is safe to say that Byrne will likely be red-shirted as the Orange return five offensive tackles from last season.  Clausman may travel a similar path as the Orange brings back three guards who have started in at least one game.
While the significance of the recruitment of these two linemen may not be felt in the upcoming season, it is a clear and promising sign for the future of Syracuse football.  Despite often being overlooked, offensive linemen are one of the most essential parts of any successful football game as both the passing and rushing game rely heavily on the “big men”.
Clausman and Byrne both have experience playing in big-game situations as they won a Florida state championship in the their senior season of high school.  Both have solidified their commitment to the Orange despite the man who recruited them, George McDonald, departing Syracuse for North Carolina State.
The St. Thomas Aquinas¬†Raiders teammates are already the ideal size for the position they play.¬† Clausman stands at 6’4″ , 300 pounds while his classmate Byrne is an inch taller and is also 300 pounds.¬†
 
Assuming both of the linemen out of Ft. Lauderdale get red-shirted, they will have a year to learn under an experienced offensive line and work off the field to become even stronger.  There is a lot more to being an offensive lineman than pushing an oncoming defender.  Sitting a year will allow the 18-year-olds to learn the ins and outs of Syracuse’s offense and be ready to contribute in the 2016 season. 
 
Clausman and Byrne are just two of five offensive linemen coming to Syracuse in the fall.  They are joined by tackles Cody Conway and Evan Adams, and guard Andrejas Duerig.  The recruitment of Clausman, Byrne and others illustrate that Syracuse is committed to building a team with a strong offensive line at the center.
Posted:  Logan Grossman
