Not a good calendar year for Syracuse football. The team fell on hard times, finishing just 3-9, and then went hitless in the NFL Draft over the weekend. But a ten members of the Orange hitched on as undrafted rookie free agents.Take a sneak peek about the NFL Football lines on the best draft selections of all time, courtesy of Mybookie.ag. SU safety Durrell Eskridge and receiver Jarrod West were brought in by the Jets. Darius Kelly, running back Prince Tyson-Gulley and Sam Rodgers were all nabbed by the Bills. Sean Hickey signed with the Saints, Eric Crume inked with the Jaguars, Cameron Lynch signed with the Rams and Dyshawn Davis joined the Washington Redskins. Brandon Reddish will work out with the Raiders.
Hopefully, one or more of these former Orange will become a starter or solid contributor for their teams. One of the dynamics recruits are always looking for is how well you can get them to the next level (i.e. the NFL). For years SU was looked at as a fertile NFL feeding ground, churning out stars like Donovan McNabb, Marvin Harrison and Dwight Freeney. In recent years, the Orange have had solid starters like Arthur Jones, Justin Pugh and Chandler Jones. At the very least, SU is getting chances to prove itself with these undrafted signees.
If Syracuse remains at the bottom of the ACC, it’ll be tougher and tougher for players to turn heads for the NFL scouts. Places like Alabama and Ohio State attract the best talent, but also start gaining a reputation for producing solid pros. It’s not impossible to get selected high from a losing team. Look at Bud Dupree of Kentucky or Kevin Johnson from Wake, two first rounders. But Syracuse doesn’t want to have to keep battling that reputation.
