The quarterback position might be the biggest question mark for the Syracuse football team this spring, but to whom he’ll be throwing is also of great concern.

The departure of Johnnie Morant leaves a significant hole in Syracuse’s wide receiver corps.

Morant led Syracuse last season with 46 catches for 799 yards and his 6-foot-4 frame is the biggest void Syracuse is trying to replace.

But also gone is Rashard Williams, who had 22 catches for 240 yards and didn’t enroll at SU this spring. Senior Jamel Riddle, who didn’t play last year because of academic reasons, will also not be back.

The only veterans with playing experience returning from last year are Jared Jones and Andre Fontenette. Jones will be a senior this fall and had 37 catches for 355 yards last year.

‘We’re young,’ said Dennis Goldman, wide receivers coach. ‘Jared’s the only full-time player coming back. Andre’s been around, he’s an experienced guy, and he knows the offense. We hope he can help us.’

Like Jones, Fontenette is also heading toward his final year. Last year, he recorded just 11 catches for 68 yards. But expect his role to grow this fall, especially since his size (6 feet 2 inches) makes him one of the larger threats Syracuse has.

At the onset of spring practices, two 5-foot-11 wide receivers were listed at the top of the depth chart. One was Jones. The other was Steve Gregory. Last year, Gregory started at cornerback, but this spring, he’s been switched to wide-out to experiment and see if he can help fill the void.

Having primarily smaller wide receivers isn’t much of a concern to Goldman.

‘Everybody’s going for the bigger wide receiver, so when it comes time to outjump a corner, the mismatch is there,’ Goldman said. ‘But (Jones and Gregory) bring something special to the table. Both have excellent speed, and they can make somebody miss. The size differential doesn’t worry me.’

Also expected to be in the mix are a few younger receivers. Redshirt freshman Landel Bembo drew praise from Goldman, as did sophomore Timothy Lane, who’s moving toward his third year in the offense.

‘We’re really looking for great things from (Bembo),’ Goldman said. ‘He has all the things you look for in a great receiver: speed, quick feet and the ability to catch. (But) he’s starting from square one with the offense.’

Open competition

While Syracuse returns both starting safeties from last year in junior Anthony Smith and senior Diamond Ferri, the departure of Gregory from corner leaves both cornerback spots open. Last year’s other starter, Troy Swittenberg, has been moved to linebacker for spring practices.

Sophomore Tanard Jackson and junior Thomas Whitfield are both listed at the top of the depth chart. But defensive backs coach R. Todd Littlejohn has made it clear it’s an open competition for all of the jobs.

‘I don’t care whether they like it or not, I’m putting them in that position,’ Littlejohn said. ‘This is a Division I school, so they have to understand and expect every day, it’s a competition. You’re trying to recruit the best players to help you win a championship. So if they don’t want to compete for that, I don’t want them playing for me. I made it very clear to them all.’

Other players expected to be in the mix at corner are Marcus Clayton, Terrell Lemon and Donte Williams.

Littlejohn pointed to the best football programs in the country, such as Miami, LSU and USC, as all having competitive programs that foster an atmosphere where if one guy goes down, there are plenty of others waiting to replace him.

‘I don’t think you should ever relax and think that your job is safe,’ Littlejohn said. ‘In those situations, if you’re the number one guy and you go down, you may not necessarily come back at number two. You may come back at three or four.’

Different breed

Another area of intense competition this spring could be the tight end spot. With the departure of seniors Joe Donnelly and Lenny Cusumano, the starting position is up for grabs. Even though he’s lost the two main threats, tight ends coach Chris White is still excited for the prospects of next season.

Both Donnelly (6 feet 3 inches, 250 pounds) and Cusumano (6 feet 1 inch, 259 pounds) were converted fullbacks who are considered undersized for the position. This season, White has two true tight ends in juniors Joe Kowalewski and Alex Shor. Sophomore Brandon Darlington and junior Cory Brooks will also compete for playing time. Shor is the biggest of the bunch at 6 feet 6 inches, 263 pounds.

Kowalewki is listed as the starter on the spring depth chart and is the only Orangeman competing for the position who caught any passes last season. He even started two games when Donnelly was out with an injury, catching a touchdown pass.

‘Joe Kowalewski and Alex Shor have been in the program for a bunch of years, and it’s their time to shine now,’ White said. ‘The thing I like about all the people we have at tight end is the size. These guys are legitimate 6-5, 6-6, 260-pound tight ends. You’re going to see a little bit of different style tight end now.’

It remains to be seen whether any of the candidates develop into serious pass-catching threats. That was something SU lacked in Donnelly and Cusumano, who combined for only 11 catches and one touchdown reception last season. Both specialized in blocking and were key special teams contributors. Kowalewski’s one touchdown reception was a 33-yard strike in SU’s 41-17 win over Temple on Nov. 8, so the Orangemen can only hope it’s a sign of things to come.

‘They make plays, we’re going to throw the ball to them,’ White said, ‘just like anybody else.’

This and that

All four of SU’s quarterbacks continue to split snaps in practice. Coaches say the competition will go on through the spring and into fall camp. … Running back Walter Reyes took part in kickoff returns Wednesday. Earlier in the week, special teams coach Chris White said it was likely Reyes would do so, and he wasn’t afraid of Reyes getting injured. … Life is lonely as a kicker. While the rest of the Orangemen took part in drills Wednesday, Collin Barber stood in the corner of the Carrier Dome stands, collecting footballs as another kicker booted balls his direction.

Published on March 31, 2004 at 12:00 pm