Syracuse came out of its 18-13 loss to Clemson with the win streak snapped, but the Orange still had a handful of players who graded well in PFF’s eyes.
The defeat left Syracuse at 4-5 overall and 2-5 in the ACC, and the game turned on third-down conversions and defense. Even in a losing effort, though, a few Orange players turned in performances that stood out.
Junior cornerback Davien Kerr was one of the biggest bright spots. He didn’t pile up eye-catching numbers, but he mattered in the way that often gets overlooked.
Kerr made five tackles, and his biggest value came in coverage. Clemson hardly tested him, which let him help close off his side of the field.
His 86.6 PFF grade placed him fifth among ACC cornerbacks last week and 19th among FBS cornerbacks.
That kind of work has been a theme for Syracuse’s secondary, which has been one of the team’s strongest units this season. Kerr has been a major part of that.
Sophomore tight end Daunte Bacheyie gave Syracuse its only touchdown late in the game and continued to look like a real passing-game weapon. He finished with six catches for 82 yards and a score, and on the Orange’s final offensive series he caught five straight passes, capped by a 33-yard touchdown. His 86.4 PFF grade ranked third among ACC tight ends last week and 13th among FBS tight ends.
Bacheyie’s rise gives Syracuse another option through the air, and getting him more involved could open up more scoring chances for the offense.
Left tackle Trevion Mack also delivered a strong outing despite Syracuse’s overall offensive issues. He helped protect Steve Angeli’s blind side and created room in the run game, giving the Orange some stability on a line dealing with injuries on the right side. Mack earned an 83.2 PFF grade, which ranked seventh among ACC offensive linemen last week and 78th among FBS offensive linemen.
The ground game still had to work for everything it got, but junior running back Ahmad Miller managed to top 100 yards anyway. He carried 20 times for 101 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt, with his longest run going for 18 yards.
Clemson kept Syracuse from breaking anything big, but Miller kept grinding out yards. His 82.3 PFF grade ranked fourth among ACC running backs last week and tied for 28th among FBS running backs.
That running production has mattered all season for Syracuse, and Miller’s day showed both sides of it: the Orange can move the ball on the ground, but they still need the explosive plays that can tilt a game. Those bigger runs could help sustain drives, open up the passing attack, and create more scoring chances.
Syracuse had several individual performances worth noting, but the team still finished with just 13 points and couldn’t sustain drives when it needed them most. Kerr helped anchor the secondary, Bacheyie kept emerging as a target, Mack steadied the line, and Miller crossed 100 rushing yards. None of it was enough to change the result.
Now the margin for error is thin. At 4-5, Syracuse needs two wins in its final three games to guarantee bowl eligibility.
The pieces are there. The challenge is putting them together before the season runs out.
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