The Syracuse Orange finished the season 11th in the ACC with a 2-6 record in conference games and 6-7 overall.
Their offense struggled this season. They ranked 92nd in points per game with 23.5, 114th in passing yards per game with 171.0, and 97th in yards per game with 343.3.
Unfortunately, Syracuse dismissed one of their leading receivers.
The Syracuse Orange dismissed their leading receiver
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the team dismissed Damien Alford earlier today.
Story on leading receiver Damien Alford no longer being on the team at Syracuse. He's expected to graduate this spring and find a new destination for the 2024 season. There's been 37 departures and 34 additions since the end of 2023 for Syracuse. https://t.co/Ytat7yt0Pr
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 12, 2024
Here’s a quick review of Alford’s tenure with Syracuse.
He started his collegiate career in 2020
Damien Alford committed to Syracuse as a three-star recruit for the 2020 season.
Alford appeared in four games in 2020, recording one reception for three yards. He redshirted in his true freshman season.
Alford appeared in 12 games in 2021, recording 13 receptions for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He finished 7th in receptions, 3rd in yards, 2nd in yards per reception, and 2nd in receiving touchdowns.
Alford appeared in 13 games in 2022, recording 20 receptions for 429 yards and two touchdowns. He finished 5th in receptions, 3rd in yards, 3rd in yards per reception, and 4th in receiving touchdowns.
Alford appeared in 13 games in 2023, recording 33 receptions for 610 yards and three touchdowns. He finished 2nd in receptions, 1st in yards, 1st in yards per reception, and 1st in receiving touchdowns.
The extent of his dismissal is unknown.
How does his dismissal impact their receiving corps?
Alford’s dismissal negatively impacts their receiving corps because he’s one of the leading receivers with four years of experience. Losing one of your best receivers is never a good thing.
Who will step up?
With the absence of Alford, Syracuse will have to rely on their elite tight end, Oronde Gadsden II. Gadsden suffered a Lisfranc injury earlier in the season and missed their last 11 games. He announced that he will return for the 2024 season.
Umari Hatcher is another receiver Syracuse will have to rely on. Hatcher has been with the team for the last three seasons. He had 32 receptions for 482 yards and three touchdowns. He has 35 receptions for 524 yards and four touchdowns in his career.
Donovan Brown is another receiver Syracuse will have to rely on. Brown has been with the team since 2022 and had 27 receptions for 321 yards and one touchdown in his redshirt freshman season.
Syracuse added two former Georgia wideouts, Zeed Haynes and Jackson Meeks.
How will they do in the ACC?
The ACC added three new teams to the conference for next season. They include the California Golden Bears, the SMU Mustangs, and the Stanford Cardinal.
How will the Syracuse Orange perform in the loaded ACC next year?
