2014 ACC Power Rankings: Atlantic Division
By Dan Kelley
Oct 5, 2013; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Terrel Hunt (10) rolls out of the pocket during the first quarter against the Clemson Tigers at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
No. 3 Syracuse Orange
The Syracuse Orange had an up-and-down season in 2013, after replacing their head coach, Doug Marrone, and completely rebuilding their offense (Marrone, by the way, is now coaching Sammy Watkins and CJ Spiller with the Buffalo Bills). But the Orange promoted former defensive coordinator Scott Shafer to the head coaching gig and the Orange have taken on his fiery demeanor.
With the deck stacked against them in 2013, a very young Orange team scratched and clawed their way to a 7-6 record, including a win in the Texas Bowl, and a third-place finish in the Atlantic division.
In 2014, the Orange return the most experienced team in the ACC, by Phil Steele’s metrics. Starting QB Terrel Hunt enters his junior year as the unquestioned leader of an offense with a veteran offensive line and a deep group of skill players. The defense will need to find answers for the losses of Jay Bromley and Marquis Spruill, but they should still boast a pretty solid front-seven. Safety Durrell Eskridge is also one of the top defensive backs in the ACC and a big-time NFL prospect.
If they were playing in the Coastal division, they might be considered a decent dark horse pick to play in the ACC Championship but, alas, they are still pretty far behind the Atlantic’s elite teams.