North Carolina and Syracuse both enter Saturday night’s matchup at Kenan Stadium carrying major availability questions, but the Orange’s quarterback situation is the bigger headache.
The ACC’s initial availability report, released Wednesday evening, listed Syracuse quarterbacks Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson as out. Steve Angeli, Syracuse’s top quarterback option, is questionable for the 7:30 p.m. game on ACC Network.
If Angeli can’t go, Syracuse could turn to junior Danny Lauter. He has appeared in the Orange’s last two games this season and has gone 5 of 11 for 74 yards and one touchdown.
Angeli has thrown for 730 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. He sat out Saturday’s 34-26 home loss to Louisville because of an Achilles-related issue. Odom, who has 391 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions, also missed that game with an injury.
Syracuse’s quarterback issues are part of a wider injury list. The Orange also have wide receiver Darien Williams and offensive linemen Jackson Iak and D’Joni Scatliffe out, while linebacker Antoine Deslauriers and kicker Tripp Woody are questionable along with Angeli.
North Carolina’s report is sizable, too. The Tar Heels are without wide receivers Mason Humphrey and Keeyun Chapman, defensive backs Tre Miller and Jakob Weatherspoon, linebacker Ashton Blatt, and defensive linemen Viliami Moala, Vodney Cleveland and Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu.
The most prominent UNC name on the questionable list is wide receiver Jordan Shipp. Also listed as questionable are defensive backs Kaleb Cost and Peyton Waters, running back Benjamin Hall, offensive lineman Jordan Hall and kicker Aeron Burrell.
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