Syracuse players talk about LeQuint Allen, and 4 other interesting notes from ACC Kickoff

Published Jul. 27, 2023, 10:06 a.m.
By Emily Leiker |
Charlotte, N.C. — The 2023 ACC Kickoff draws to a close Thursday in the Queen City, but Syracuse football’s time at the event wrapped up two days ago.
The Orange was the first program to speak Tuesday morning at the three-day media event that precedes the start of fall camp. Coach Dino Babers, quarterback Garrett Shrader, linebacker Marlowe Wax and tight end Oronde Gadsden represented SU.
Through time at the podium and in smaller breakout sessions with media afterward, here are five of the most interesting things Syracuse’s contingent said.
Wax makes team’s first comments on LeQuint Allen
Wax, a team captain for the Orange, was the first from the program to speak about the situation involving running back LeQuint Allen.
Allen sued Syracuse University in June over what he alleged was a wrongful suspension; in July, Allen’s lawyer and SU settled the matter out of court and he is returning to the team.
Allen was unable to participate in team activities for a little over a month while serving the suspension before the lawsuit temporarily paused it.
“We were just supporting him in all ways we can because we know LeQuint as a person,” Wax told syracuse.com about what morale was like in the locker room at that time. “He was going through something, and we’re gonna go through it with him. Stand by his side. Fight it with him. That’s all it was.”
There was widespread support on social media from Orange fans throughout the ordeal, which Wax said made him happy to see.
“Just knowing LeQuint as a person, he’s a great teammate like Shrader said, he’s a great player with the ball in his hands and without the ball in his hands. That says a lot right there,” Wax said. “I’m just thankful that everybody was behind us and believed in us and believed in him. Just being able to have him back is great.”
Earlier, on the podium, Shrader spoke briefly about Allen as a teammate when asked to compare him and previous SU running back Sean Tucker.
“We’re excited to see what LeQuint will be able to do this year, and he is a hard worker,” Shrader said. “He plays hard, and a lot of guys — there’s a lot of camaraderie built around him because of the way that he plays and the way that he shows up every day.”
Babers briefly discusses his contract
As a private university, Syracuse is guarded about releasing details on its coaches’ contracts.
Last month, SU athletic director John Wildhack said Babers had “multiple years” left on his contract. When asked what multiple meant, he did not elaborate.
Speaking with syracuse.com Tuesday, Babers gave a sliver more insight into his contract.
First, when asked about how many years he could guarantee the 2024 recruiting class he’d be around, Babers said, “I could promise exactly, but I can’t promise. So no promises.”
Then, when asked more specifically whether he’d received a contract extension last season when the Orange went 7-6 and made its first bowl game since 2018, Babers was blunt.
“If I had an extension, you would know about it.”
Gadsden doing extra work with Nunzio Campanile
Back in the spring, both Gadsden and Babers said one of the goals for the star tight end was to improve his blocking.
Asked whether he was working with anyone in particular to do that this offseason, he said it’s mostly been new tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile, who came to Syracuse from Rutgers in January.
“I think it’s more of the physical aspect that’s wrong with the blocking, so just trying to get that mental thing of being more physical, getting my hands on the guy, getting up and inside, driving my feet,” Gadsden said.
Gadsden said his other goals include wanting to hit the 1,000-yard mark on over 70 catches. He also said a team goal is to get eight or more wins.
Big things are expected of Stefon Thompson
The Orange has a number of players set to return this fall from season-ending injuries last year. Several were starters or depth chart players who could’ve made significant impact in 2022.
So which of those guys do teammates think will have the biggest impact this season?
Both Wax and Gadsden said it will be linebacker Stefon Thompson, who suffered a lower-body injury in the first half of Syracuse’s season-opener against Louisville.
Gadsden cited the linebacker’s pass rushing ability and good hands which he’s seen put to use this summer.
“Stefon’s gonna come back, put on a show,” Wax said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Gadsden also gave a bonus answer: “Not returning, I think (Chris Elmore) was the biggest. Would’ve helped the run game a whole lot.”
What marks a successful 2023 season?
The baseline metric of success in college football has long been making a bowl game. The six wins required to play in one guarantees at least a .500 finish in the regular season.
Even in the changing college football landscape, Babers said that’s still what his team is striving for.
“I think the main thing is we want a winning season,” Babers told syracuse.com. “If we have a winning season, we’re gonna go to a bowl game, and bowl game is what everyone’s been shooting for. So that’s what we want to shoot for.”