In 2022, Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden earned a spot on the All-ACC First Team. This year, voters are confident he can post a repeat performance.
On Wednesday, the ACC announced its annual media-voted All-ACC Preseason Team. Oronde Gadsden was named to the lone tight end spot on that list.
The all-conference nod doesn’t come as a surprise. Gadsden tallied 969 yards and grabbed six touchdowns in last year’s campaign. Both of those marks are SU program records for the tight end position. It wouldn’t be all that shocking if he broke his own records next year. Gadsden has stability at the quarterback position with Garrett Shrader, and SU hasn’t added anyone that will compete for his target share.
There’s even a solid argument that Gadsden would still make the All-ACC Preseason Team even if he was classified as a wide receiver, like he was until last year. The final WR to make the list was Jalon Calhoun, who Gadsden beat out in nearly every statistical category last year, from yards to touchdowns.
Now, who will compete with Gadsden for the tight end spot on this season’s all-conference first team?
The key name to watch out for is Bryson Nesbit. The junior TE out of North Carolina is coming off of a solid year. Nesbit surpassed 500 yards and four scored on his way to an All-Conference Honorable Mention nod. However, he might be in for a lot of growth. With the rise of Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye, plus UNC losing its top two receivers in the offseason, Nesbit is on track to fill up the stat sheet this year.
While Nesbit should have a solid year, the position as the All-ACC tight end is Gadsden’s to lose. The preseason honors prove that many have confidence he’s up for the challenge.
