Things can change a lot in a year.
With the MLB All-Star game this week, featuring stars from around the league such as the Chicago Cubs, here’s a look back one year ago at what we were talking about in the Syracuse sports world around last year’s MLB All-Star game:
Syracuse Basketball Offered Tyus Battle’s Younger Brother
Tyus Battle has been making Syracuse headlines for years now. He was recruited, came to play, returned the next year, then led the team, left for the NBA Draft and now has come back again for 2018-2019.
But in July 2017, the day before the MLB All-Star Game‚ Khalif Battle was the name to know (with Tyus’ name attached, of course). Khalif Battle, now a high school senior as part of the Class of 2019, received an offer from SU basketball.
And the story gets better. On the same day, the University of Washington made him an offer. The Huskies, of course, were being led by their newly appointed head coach: none other than former Syracuse coach (who was next in line for the SU head coaching spot), Mike Hopkins.
Unfortunately for fans of the Orange, Khalif Battle committed elsewhere—to Butler on May 4, 2018.
Four-Star and Three-Star Recruits Visit Syracuse Football
The 2017 Syracuse football season was approaching, and recruiting was underway for the Class of 2018.
On the day of the 2017 MLB All-Star Game, two new faces—Qadir White and Cameron Jonas—made their first visits to Syracuse University.
One year ago, Qadir White, an offensive lineman from the Bronx, was ranked as a four-star player, the 317th prospect in the nation, the 26th at offensive tackle and the 3rd in the state of New York, according to 247Sports.com. Today, White ranks as a three-star player, the 401st prospect in the nation, the 28th at offensive tackle and the 4rd in the state of New York, according to 247Sports.com.
Last year, Cameron Jonas, a safety from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, ranked as a three-star player, the 592nd prospect in the country, the 45th at safety and the 92nd in the state of Florida, according to 247Sports.com. Today, he ranks as a three-star player, the 655th prospect in the country, the 47th at safety and the 101st in the state of Florida, according to 247Sports.com.
In July 2017, 247Sports.com also predicted a 100% chance that Jonas would commit to NC State. Now in July 2018, Jonas is enrolled at Syracuse University.
Both White and Jonas will step onto Ernie Davis Legends Field in the Carrier Dome in the Orange uniform this season.
Eric Dungey and Erv Philips were Named to National Award Watch Lists
The quarterback and wide receiver duo had caught fire in 2016 during Dino Baber’s first year as the Syracuse football head coach. And then, people were expecting the Orange offense to explode in 2017.
Months before the 2017 began, Eric Dungey and Erv Philips were already being watched as potential candidates for national awards.
With retrospect now in 2018, we know just how well the two did. Dungey threw for 2495 yards (9th in the ACC) and had 787 rushing yards (net 595 yards) to lead the team. Philips had 89 receptions for 904 yards (45th most in the NCAA DI and 5th in the ACC) and four touchdowns as well as 79 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Neither Dungey nor Philips won the awards they were being watched for, but they did put on quite the show for SU football fans.
Now, Dungey prepares for his senior season with Syracuse, and Philips is playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.
So here we are, one year later. The future is still unknown. The exciting question remains: what will the next year bring?
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Published: David Edelstein
