As the season continues to get closer, the accolades for Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden continue to pile up. Gadsden has already been named one of the top 100 players by ESPN, first team all-ACC, and a member of the Maxwell Award watch list.
Gadsden was named to the AP preseason All-American second team. The first team’s tight end is Brock Bowers from Georiga. Gadsden is one of 10 ACC players to be named a preseason AP All-American. Gadsden is one of just four offensive players in the conference to be selected.
Last season, Gadsden had 61 receptions for 969 yards and 6 touchdowns. It could be harder though for him to get those numbers this season. While last year, Sean Tucker was the talk of the town and the main focus of defenses, now that will be Gadsden.
Expect new offensive coordinator Jason Beck to have Gadsden lineup all over the place. Even though he is listed as a tight end, Gadsden will line up outside, in the slot, and in the three-point stance. Gadsden’s flexibility is what makes him such a special player. Tight Ends have become so important in recent times because they can be a matchup nightmare. With the size and speed that Gadsden has, its hard for safeties, cornerbacks, and linebackers to guard him. Especially in the RPO game, where everything develops so quick, Gadsden can be a deadly option.
The last Syracuse TE to be named an AP All-American was Pat Davis back in 1988. That season, Davis had just 424 yards for three touchdowns. The year before, Pat Kelly was named an honorable mention All American. That season, Kelly amassed only 392 yards and two touchdowns. The last time a Syracuse player was named an AP All-American wasn’t too long ago. Sean Tucker was named 2nd team back in 2021.
