LaSerre’s Look Ahead: Early glance at FSU’s next opponent, Syracuse

After defeating Virginia Tech on Saturday to improve to 5-0, the No. 4 Florida State football team will begin practicing Tuesday morning for this Saturday’s game against visiting Syracuse (noon, ABC).

Syracuse started its season with four straight wins, but the Orange have hit the toughest part of their schedule with Clemson, North Carolina and Florida State all in a row. Dino Babers’ team now sits at 4-2 after losses to the Tigers and the Tar Heels.

Quarterback Garrett Shrader is once running the show for Syracuse. He currently has 1,272 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions on 102 completions.

The former Mississippi State Bulldog has also rushed for 368 yards and six additional touchdowns; 195 of those rushing yards came against Purdue in Week 3.

Just above Shrader in rushing yards is running back LeQuint Allen. The sophomore has run for 401 yards and seven touchdowns on 87 carries. The Orange also use Allen as a receiver out of the backfield, where he has 20 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore Umari Hatcher has been Syracuse’s leading receiver through six games with 310 yards and two touchdowns on 19 receptions. True freshman Donovan Brown is close behind Hatcher with 298 yards and one touchdown on 22 receptions. And junior wide receiver Damien Alford is third on the team with 282 yards and one touchdown.

Unfortunately for Syracuse, star tight end Oronde Gadsden II has been lost for the season due to injury.

As for the Orange defense, they are led by cornerback Justin Barron and linebacker Marlowe Wax. They are tied for the team lead in tackles with 45 and interceptions with one each.

Defensive back Jeremiah Wilson leads the team in pass deflections with five. He also has one of two pick-sixes for the Orange this year.

The Syracuse defense has taken a high-risk, high-reward approach under coordinator Rocky Long. The Orange are tied for 14th nationally with 18 sacks, and they are tied for 11th with 12 forced turnovers.

But while they have been solid against the run, allowing 114.0 rushing yards per game, they rank 87th in pass defense (241.0 yards per game).

Talk about this story with other die-hard Florida State football fans on the Tribal Council.

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