Syracuse is currently lacking big bodies at defensive end. The Orange are currently in the mix for a couple of edge rushers in the 2023 recruiting cycle, but for the short term, SU is taking some drastic measures. To be specific, Tony White and Dino Babers have moved sophomore former running back Josh Hough to defensive line. But Hough wasn’t just any running back prospect coming out of high school. He won Pennsylvania’s Mr. Football his senior year.
Hough rushed for 2,048 yards and 29 touchdowns on just 124 carries as a senior for Beaver Falls high school in Pennsylvania. Over his high school career, the three-star prospect rushed for 4,378 yards.¬†Like holy cow. Every Friday in the Fall of 2020, Twitter raved about Josh Hough ripping off 60, 70 and 80-yard touchdown runs. He seemed to be a big fish in a small pond, but his size and speed should’ve translated to the college game.
However, size has been Hough’s problem. He came into college at 255 pounds, and it seems like he’s been unable to cut that weight to something that can translate to the college game. Now that the SU running back room is crowded behind Sean Tucker, Hough seems better served on the D-line, where he also moonlighted in high school. The athleticism is still there, and there’s a lot of playing time available on a unit with little depth.
