The 2020 Syracuse Football season has officially come to an end. Although this year may not have been what the Orange wanted or were expecting, there is nothing they can do about it now. Now, it is time for SU to get healthy and get ready for next season.
This offseason is going to be like none other after the NCAA ruled that all Fall athletes will have an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That means graduating seniors have to decide whether they want to hang ‘em up and leave or stay on the hill and play for one more year. The rule also makes transferring more intriguing because players will have an extra year at their new school.
After coming off an abysmal 1-10 season, Dino Babers and company could be in for a crazy offseason. Who is returning? Who is graduating? Who is transferring? Here’s a list of all of the Syracuse players who have made their decision so far:
Returning
Tommy DeVito – Redshirt Junior – Quarterback
There were some rumors floating around the 315 about DeVito possibly wanting to transfer. Those rumors were hushed by DeVito’s father when he spoke with Nate Mink of Syracuse.com. The redshirt junior will be returning to Syracuse with two more years of eligibility. He was sidelined for the majority of the 2020 season with a foot injury, but will presumably be the day-one starter next year.
Josh Black – Redshirt Senior – Defensive Line
Black announced on his Twitter that he will be returning to SU for his sixth season. The redshirt senior led the defensive line in tackles in 2020 and will be a veteran presence on a young defense again next year.
Airon Servais – Redshirt Senior – Offensive Line
The streak continue’s on! Servais has started 48 consecutive games for Syracuse Football and will continue to be a major presence on the offensive line nest season. He announced on December 9, that he will be returning adding, “I assure you, Orange Nation, things are going to change.”
Kingsley Jonathan – Senior – Defensive Line
The #revengetour is ON for Jonathan. The defensive lineman will be returning for a fifth year, which he has dedicated as a revenge tour. It is a little shocking because Dino Babers throughout the season hinted at Jonathan already having a job outside of football. It is obviously a good type of shock, as the senior is a big part of a defensive line that doesn’t have much talent behind him in the pipeline currently.
Graduating
No players have announced their plans to graduate and not play again next season yet.
Transferring
Aaron Hackett – Senior – Tight End
In 2019, Hackett tallied the second-most touchdown receptions on the team and was named SU’s most improved offensive player. In 2020, the senior only caught ten passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. With his role in the Syracuse offense extremely diminished, the tight end has entered the transfer portal. There are multiple schools interested in Hackett already.
Markenzy Pierre – Redshirt Junior – Running Back
Pierre was expected to take a step up this past season with some key opt outs in the running back room, but reality didn’t match those expectations. The redshirt junior only rushed for 48 yards all season and was turned into mostly a special teamer. With his position on the depth chart now at RB4, Pierre has entered the transfer portal and would be immediately eligible to play elsewhere if he finds a destination.
Cooper Dawson – Redshirt Freshman – Defensive Line
Dawson redshirted the 2019 season, then opted out of the 2020 campaign before it even began. The South Carolina-native never played a snap for the Orange and has now placed his name in the transfer portal. Dawson is best known for his commitment video in which he allowed his friend Kingsley Feinman to announce that he was selecting Syracuse.
Jason Munoz – Redshirt Freshman – Defensive Line
Munoz came to Syracuse as a three-star recruit. After redshirting the 2019 season and not seeing any playing time this past year, the defensive lineman is transferring.
Tyler Cook – Freshman – Linebacker
Cook is a walk-on freshman who did not play a single snap this season. He is leaving Syracuse and will transfer to another school.
We will continue to update this article when more players make their decisions.
