Garrett Shrader is the new kid on the block for Syracuse, he just wants to play the game he loves.
But how often Shrader gets to play for the Orange remains to be seen.
If first impressions count, and we know they do, Shrader looks ready for more than the part-time role his new team has planned for him.
In a week, Syracuse will open their season against the Ohio Bobcats. Orange head coach Dino Babers has yet to announce his starting quarterback. Who will it be?
Will it be the returning two-year starter, Tommy DeVito? Or will it be Shrader, the transfer from Mississippi State?
Baber is keeping his cards close on this one, however, he’s made it known that both quarterbacks will see time on the field this season.
It’s hard to argue with Baber’s position on not naming a starting quarterback. Syracuse finished last season with a 1-10 season and DeVito missed most of the campaign due to injury.
Moreover, their dismal 2020 season wasn’t just poor quarterback play. Injuries hit the roster hard, specifically on the offensive line.
Therefore, nothing should be guaranteed for anyone right now except opportunity.
And that’s what makes the arrival of Shrader so intriguing.
When he transferred, it was with the expectation he would get a chance at becoming QB1 for the Orange. And, let’s face it, a 1-10 record last season justifies his feeling that way.
While DeVito is likely the favorite to lead the offense onto the field in Week One, Baber sees enough talent in Shrader to keep the door open just enough for us to speculate.
“I think he deserves to be on the football field,” Babers said of Shrader. “He can make plays with his arm and his legs. The best way to see that, those types of players, is you’ve got to put them in the games sometimes to see how it works out.”
While Babers likes what both quarterbacks bring to the field, and feels both are deserving of playing time, clearing out the smell from last season’s 1-10 record is what matters most of all.
Garrett Shrader – Image: Dennis Nett
Dino Babers – Image: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Tommy DeVito – Image: Getty
