Frank Ordoñez/The Post-Standard

By Tom Sullivan

At the start of SU’s fall camp in early August, we took a look at the 10 most pressing storylines worth keeping an eye on as camp progressed. Well, three weeks later, most of those questions have been answered in some form or another. The depth chart has been released for the Akron game Saturday – with it, we take a look back at how those questions have been answered:

10. Will the eyeball test translate to results on the field for Deon Goggins?
Goggins had a relatively quiet camp and still finds himself third on the depth chart at defensive tackle. According to the the coaching staff, Goggins struggled to keep up early in the camp, but was making strides as camp wore on. He’ll still have a chance as the fall wears on but it seems like being lost cost him an early chance at impressing.

9. Will either of the Hofstra transfers prove enough to get on the field in what is their senior years?
Not only will both Aaron Weaver and Jose Cruz see the field this spring, it’s likely each will play a serious role in the 2010 version of the Syracuse offense. Cruz remarkably beat out Nick Provo, the only returnee with experience, for the starting tight end spot and Weaver is listed as Alex Lemon’s back-up at the X receiver spot. Considering the lack of experience at the receiving position, Weaver will have plenty of opportunities to make plays. There will be a distinct feeling of Pride on the offensive side of the ball for the Orange this year.

8. Who will emerge as the third running back now that Averin Collier is ineligible?
Royalty – that’s who. As in one Prince-Tyson Gulley. The true freshman was impressive all through camp and came out as the third back behind the Delone Carter/Antwon Bailey duo. With Averin Collier gone for the year, Gulley will find himself in the same role Collier played last year. Gulley didn’t just make an impression at halfback – he’s the #1 kickoff return man for the Orange heading into the Akron game.

7. Can Dorian Graham bring back the promise he showed freshmen year – at an entirely new position?
Graham shoowed enough promise to beat out Marcus Sales, but that doesn’t seem to mean much. He’s listed behind Van Chew and true freshman Steve Rene at the Z wide out spot. Not particularly surprising considering he’s has only three weeks of playing the position all together. He’s the best athlete on the team so once it all clicks for him expect to see #10 catching passes from Ryan Nassib this year.

6. Just where will Shamarko Thomas end up?
Not lonely that’s for sure. He’s joined by Max Suter as a co-#1 at strong safety on the Akron depth chart. For a kid who is described by teammates as a “beast”, injury has certainly played a role in preventing him from establishing an identity in camp. I’d expect him to see the field more than Suter as he gets healthy – he’s just too good a player to keep off the field.

5. What freshman linebackers will prove themselves ready to play?
How about three? One of the bigger headlines of camp was the impressive play of true freshman Marquis Spruill. His play, along with Ryan Gillum’s injuries, have the New Jersey native in the starting line-up at the SAM linebacker spot along side veterans Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue. Behind those two at the back-up middle and weak side linebacking positions are two more true freshmen – Malcolm Cater and Brice Hawkes. The linebackers were the most highly rated group of freshmen in the incoming class by the rating services and they’ve appeared to exceed the hype after their first camp.

4. How will injuries affect the depth chart?
Easily the story of August for the Orange. Almost every position on both sides of the ball experienced some kind of shuffling due to injury over the last three weeks. The two biggest losses were freshman wideout Jerrod West, who suffered a season ending foot injury just three days into camp, and  DB Ri’Shard Anderson who will miss the season with a shoulder injury. Throw in bumps and bruises to guys like Van Chew, Ryan Lichtenstein, Keon Lyn, Ryan Gillum, Adam Rosner, Jerome Smith, Charlie Copa and Adrian Fleming and the Orange were lucky to field two full teams for its scrimmages this season (and even those were forced to be called conservatively to avoid further injuries).

3. Who will emerge as the #1 wide receiver?
The story didn’t end up being so much about challenging Alec Lemon and Van Chew for the starting spots, rather who could hold on to the back-up jobs. Lemon and Chew never seemed to be pushed for their jobs and the position’s biggest story was the team’s spring game star seemingly playing his way off the field all together. Marcus Sales – who had eight catches for 158 yards and 2 TDs in April – isn’t even listed on the three deep at either wide receiver position heading in to the Akron game. He was passed by the likes of a D-1AA transfer, a true freshman, a converted defensive back and, craziest of all, a walk-on. Seems like a sad and uninspired ending in Orange for a kid who came to campus with expectations as high as anyone else in the last five years.

2. Can Charlie Loeb do enough to make Doug Marrone think twice about who should be his starting quarterback at Akron?
Apparently not. Marrone has called Ryan Nassib his starting quarterback from day one of camp and the kid never seemed to be challenged for the position. In fact, Loeb appears to be the one getting the biggest challenge – true freshman John Kinder made a run at the back-up job with his spirited play through camp. Lost in the shuffle appears to be Jonny Miller who is still suffering from the effects of offseason shoulder surgery. He’ll most certainly redshirt in 2010. The 2010 Orange will sink or swim behind the play of Ryan Nassib.

1. Will Nathaniel Hackett earn the trust of Doug Marrone?
We’ll just have to wait and see on this one. The only per son who can answer this one at this point is the head coach himself. Hackett gets his first chance to show his merits to the Syracuse faithful this Saturday. One thing’s for sure – we won’t be seeing a flee-flicker on the first play from scrimmage this year.