While all eyes are on the quarterback of the future, Dino Babers’ coaching staff is doing everything it can to surround that mystery man behind center with weapons. The Orange reeled in three-star tailback LeQuint Allen for the Class of 2022. But that class needs some help on the outside.
The recent offer to Zion Steptoe is in line with that concern. The Frisco, Texas native projects as a rich man’s Sean Riley, a deep-ball threat through his speed at just 6-foot, 170 lbs. For reference, Riley was 5-foot-8, 178 lbs in his senior season.
The verdict is still out on whether SU has a good chance to grab Steptoe. On one hand, the Orange only had two texans on the roster last season, and one of them was a transfer (Cody Roscoe). On the other, signal caller Dillon Markiewicz grew up just 20 minutes from Frisco, in McKinney.
But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the biggest variables in Steptoe’s recruitment, like it will be for almost any other Syracuse target in the near future, is the quarterback.
Before SU fans call for QB by committee between Tommy DeVito, Garrett Shrader, Dillon Markiewicz, Jacobian Morgan, and Justin Lamson, it’s important to recognize the image of instability and uncertainty that projects. Steptoe likely will not, and should not, commit to the Orange if he doesn’t trust the quarterback, but he can only trust who he knows has the job.
So Steptoe hinges largely on who seizes the QB1 spot. If it’s a younger guy like Morgan, Lamson, or Markiewicz, then Steptoe won’t be able to ignore the seemingly bright future of the Orange offense.
