Syracuse Football Training Camp Position Preview: Running Back
UPDATE: LeQuint Allen reached a settlement with Syracuse University and will now play this season. This preview has been updated as a result.
Syracuse football is expected to kick off training camp in the next month or so with the season less than two months away. All Syracuse continues its series previewing each position headed into training camp with the running back position.
PREVIOUS POSITION PREVIEWS
WHAT WE KNOW
LeQuint Allen is the starter but there will be more of a rotation this season. Over the last two seasons, Sean Tucker took a vast majority of the snaps at running back. While Allen is the starter, the backups will rotate in much more frequently. Expect to see Juwaun Price and potentially Ike Daniels seeing a significant number of snaps
WHAT WE DON'T
How effective everyone will be. Allen was tremendous in the Pinstripe Bowl as the starter. However, going through an entire season as the starter is a completely different story. In addition, Price has not played significantly at the power five level and Ike Daniels is a true freshman. Others on the roster, including a pair of junior college transfers and other freshmen, have also not played at the power five collegiate level. So there is a lot of unknown even if the talent seems strong on paper.
BIGGEST CONCERN
Nobody steps up and Syracuse has a rotation of average at best backs. Now I do not think this will be the case, but that is the biggest concern. Given how much unproven talent is in the running backs room, it would be the worst case scenario but also the biggest concern.
BIGGEST STRENGTH
Options and versatility. The good news is, Syracuse has five guys to choose from. Even if Allen does not step up, the Orange has other options. Price is a solid all around back who is best between the tackles. Daniels and Hawkins are both similar as well, though they have a bit more burst. Hawkins has more experience of the two, however, running for 1,100 yards at the junior college level last season along with 18 touchdowns and averaging 8.5 yards per carry. Parkman can be an x-factor regardless. He has elite speed and can be moved all over the formation. You could see him as a traditional back, split out in the slot, in two back sets or even out wide as a receiver. Of note, when Sean Tucker came to Syracuse he started third or fourth on the depth chart. He earned playing time as a true freshman due to injury and transfer, and the rest is history.
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