Tag: Syracuse

2023 NFL draft grades: Falcons pick OL Matthew Bergeron at No. 38 overall

2023 NFL draft grades: Atlanta Falcons pick Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron at No. 38 overall in the second round, via @DillySanders

The Atlanta Falcons are leaning heavily into the run game as they select offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron out of Syracuse.

After having a run-heavy game last season and then drafting running back Bijan Robinson in the top 10 last night, they look to someone who has a strength in run blocking. Bergeron is not slouch in the passing game either. Pro Football Focus has given him a grade in the eighties in each of the past two seasons.

He’s someone that got whispers of going at the end of the first round, like all huge and athletic offensive lineman do. He also has experience on both sides of the offensive line, as he’ll be able to grow with the roster and move around to fill needs. It’s a little higher than I would have gone, but it’s still a good pick.

Grade: B

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Best available offensive players for the Eagles on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at the best available offensive prospects for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft

After a fantastic opening night, the Eagles are slated to have two selections on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, with picks Nos. 62 and 66.

Philadelphia forfeited their fourth-round pick via trade and will have no choices in Rounds four, five, or six.

With the second and third rounds set to kick off on Friday night, Philadelphia could look to add more offensive firepower to the roster.

List of transfer portal targets for Notre Dame

At least one of these players could suit up for the Irish next season.

Notre Dame had a horrible 2022-23 season, but no matter what happened, 2023-24 was going to present a challenge. Having barely enough returning players just to to be able to play 5-on-5 is a problem no program ever wants to deal with. Yet that’s where the Irish are after half the previous roster was made up of graduate students and two of their three incoming freshmen de-committed after [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] announced his departure.

The good news is the transfer portal is more active than ever before. Say what you will about what NIL has done to college sports, but new coach [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] has to be grateful that it has allowed the equivalent of free agency. With only [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] on the horizon, he’ll have to bandage up the Irish’s problems with transfers until he has one or two recruiting classes under his belt.

Nathan Erbach of the “Golden Homers” podcast has done a good job of tracking the existing college players who might make South Bend their home next season. Here are the players who reportedly have been connected to the Irish so far, a few of which either are about to visit campus or already have:

One RB for the Eagles in each round of the 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at one running back for the Philadelphia Eagles in every round of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Eagles will look different at running back in 2023, with Rashaad Penny replacing former Penn State star Miles Sanders.

Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon give Philadelphia the potential for a solid committee of rushers. However, Eagles GM Howie Roseman could look to land the perfect fit during this month’s draft.

The Eagles have eyes for Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs, and we have one running back for each round if GM Howie Roseman decides to make a move.

One offensive tackle for the Eagles in every round of the 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at one offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles in every round of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Eagles are set to retool the offensive line after losing a key contributor and a Pro Bowl-caliber starter in Isaac Suemalo.

The expectation is that former Nebraska center and 2021 second-round pick Cam Jurgens will slide to right guard.

Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman could decide to draft a more natural fit for the position to compete against Jurgens while adding more depth to the NFL’s most talented position group.

The Eagles have studs at the offensive tackle position, with Lane Johnson (RT) as the best at his job.

Jordan Mailata has Pro Bowl potential at left tackle and is a mauler and Jalen Hurts’ personal protector.

With the NFL draft quickly approaching, we’re looking at one offensive tackle in every round of the selection process.

Syracuse CB Garrett Williams reportedly visited Jaguars

The Jaguars are one of several teams that brought in Syracuse’s Garrett Williams, who is recovering from an ACL tear, for a visit.

Pass rushers and cornerbacks have been the focal point of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft and Syracuse defensive back Garrett Williams can be added to the list.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston, Williams has visited five teams including the Jaguars in the lead up to draft day.

Williams is a 5’10, 192-pound cornerback who suffered an ACL tear in October 2022. While the injury kept the Syracuse alum from participating in the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day, he’s reportedly making good progress in his recovery.

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke typically targets cornerbacks with more size and length than Williams, but there’s no arguing with his production on the field. In three years as a starter, Williams earned All-ACC nods three times.

Jacksonville has a rising star at cornerback in Tyson Campbell and may already have its starter on the other side in Darious Williams. However, depth at the position is thin after the team cut ties with Shaquill Griffin in March.

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Final 2022-23 ACC men’s basketball leaders

Here’s the best the ACC had to offer this year.

Miami made it to the Final Four but will not be playing for the national championship. Therefore, the 2022-23 ACC men’s basketball season is over. It was another down year for the conference as it didn’t have many NCAA Tournament berths once again, and only the Hurricanes made it to the second weekend. Duke and Pittsburgh made it to the second round, and Virginia and NC State were bounced without a win.

With the conference in a slump, it’s fair to wonder when and if it will become must-watch basketball once again. Right now, it’s a power conference in name only. Could NIL and the transfer portal make this step back a permanent one? Hopefully not, but those very things have made college basketball more unpredictable than ever.

All of the above questions will be answered as time goes on. In the meantime, here are the leaders from the major statistical categories this season:

Final 2022-23 ACC women’s basketball leaders

Here’s the best the ACC had to offer in the major statistical categories this season.

With Virginia Tech’s loss in the Final Four, the 2022-23 ACC season is complete. It was quite the successful season for the conference as it boasted many of the best teams and players in the country. Notre Dame made it to the Sweet 16. Miami and Louisville got as far as the Elite Eight. And let’s not discount Duke, Florida State or North Carolina, all of whom made the NCAA Tournament. Whichever program you chose to follow, chances are you wouldn’t be disappointed the quality of basketball.

Now that we’ve paid tribute to the best teams, let’s look at the players who were the best in the major statistical categories during the season. Not every player on the list represented a top conference team, but their presence alone made even the most abysmal conference games worth watching. Next year’s conference players will have a lot to live up to following in the footsteps of these ladies. Heck, some of them could be back on this list at the end of next season:

Notre Dame guard JJ Starling transfers to Syracuse

There he goes.

The 2022-23 season was JJ Starling’s first for Notre Dame and also his last. One day after it was reported that the freshman was entering the transfer portal, a decision already is known. He told ESPN that he has committed to Syracuse, a longtime conference rival for the Irish.

Geographically, the move makes sense for Starling, who is from the Syracuse suburb of Baldwinsville, New York. It is unknown how much new coach Adrian Autry played a factor, but at the very least, the Orange have a successor for Jim Boeheim. The Irish do not yet have a replacement for [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag], though they might be waiting to see when their candidates’ seasons are over.

This is a tremendous loss for the Irish, and not only because Starling would have been the top returning scorer (11.2 points a game) had he stayed in South Bend. He is the Irish’s top recruit since 2000 according to 247Sports. That they couldn’t hold onto the future NBA talent for his entire collegiate career can’t sit well with the program or its fans.

There doesn’t seem to be much ill will towards the Irish though. When asked to comment about Brey, Starling said the following:

“Coach Brey was a great coach and person. Even while going through tough times, he tried his best to make sure he was there for all of the players and continued to relay the message: ‘We only have each other.’ I wish him the best in whatever he decides to do.”

We wish Starling well, though not too well when the Orange and Irish face off next season.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

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Before he became a legendary basketball coach at Syracuse University, Jim Boeheim played on and coached the school’s golf team

“Jim was just like he is on the basketball sidelines – he was a whiner.”

Jim Boeheim has a lengthy resume.

He’s been the head man of Syracuse basketball since 1976 and took the ‘Cuse to three national championship games. Boeheim’s teams lost in their first two appearances before riding a young Carmelo Anthony to a victory over Kansas in 2003.

However, before his career was centered around hoops, Boeheim was a member of the Syracuse golf team.

“It was fun,’’ Boeheim said in a piece at Syracuse.com. “I wasn’t that good. I was probably the fifth or sixth guy on the team. At that time, I was in the mid-to-high 70s.’’

He earned two varsity letters in 1964 and ’65, while earning a 6-6-1 record as an individual during that span.

“He was a legitimate 3-handicap,’’ said Charlie Jurgonis, who played on the team from 1962 to 1964. “By legitimate, I mean he could go play another course and play well. He could play to a 3 anywhere he went.’

“He knew he was a good putter. He knew he just had to get it on the green and he had a chance.’’

Ted Till, who spent one year playing with Boeheim, classified the legend as a grinder.

“He had a very good short game. He was not an exceptionally long hitter. I wasn’t either. We probably hit the ball about the same distance. He was a cerebral golfer. He had a good swing.’’

In Scott Pitoniak’s Boeheim biography titled “Color Him Orange,’’ Barry Buchsbaum said: “Jim was just like he is on the basketball sidelines – he was a whiner. The only difference was that he would be swearing at himself instead of the referees because golf is an individual sport. He’d miss a shot and start cursing at himself. He was very hard on himself. But he was a lot of fun to play with and a great teammate.’’

Not only did Boeheim play for the golf squad, he coached it. Till finished his career as a member of the Boeheim-led squad.

“Coaching golf was fun,’’ Boeheim said. “I’d send those guys out and then I’d go out the back. They’d play front and back and I’d play the back and then the front.’’

In his final year of coaching (1973), the Orange went 5-2.

On Wednesday, Syracuse announced Boeheim will not return to coach the Orange. Associate head coach Adrian Autry will be promoted to replace the 78-year-old Boeheim.

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