Ashton Broyld is finally on the Syracuse football roster, after a controversial incident his senior year in high school and a year at Milford Academy. The biggest question surrounding Broyld has always been if he could get his academic and behavioral issues straightened out enough to make it to the Hill. To his credit, he has done that and officially been added to the class of 2012.¬†But that just brings up the other questions that always surround Broyld: “Is he the next starter or will he have to switch positions at SU?”
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Broyld was incredibly successful as the signal caller at Rush-Henrietta two years ago, leading his team to a state title and earning New York Class AA Player of the Year honors. That season Broyld passed for 1,961 yards and 24 touchdowns, and showed superior athletic ability as well rushing for 1,540 yards and 24 more touchdowns.
Doug Marrone does not have another quarterback in SU’s class of ’12, and maybe that’s because of an overflow of names already. Syracuse did target Buffalo prep star Chad Kelly, but he chose Clemson. Broyld and Terrell Hunt were recruited as the class of ’11. Jon Kinder and Johnny Miller were ’10. Charley Loeb was part of Marrone’s first class in ’09 (plus Greg Paulus). Nassib, Loeb, Kinder, and Hunt all remain.
The coaching staff must believe the next quarterback of the Orange is already on the roster, because it’s unlikely (but not impossible) a true freshman or a JUCO transfer would take over the reigns his first year.¬†This surplus of QBs, along with Broyld‚Äôs 6‚Äô4‚Äù 225 lbs. frame and athletic ability, has led to speculation Broyld could switch positions. It was even rumored early last season¬†he was going through a position change at Milford. He has a frame that could easily morph into a tight end if the coaching staff were to decide.
To move him from quarterback would be a mistake however, especially at this early stage of his career. There are a lot of names on the depth chart next to Nassib, but none really stand out to succeed him as starter. While it’s unlikely Broyld will even be able to climb to #2 this season, Syracuse needs to have its eye on the future of the position. If SU was grooming a successor to Nassib, this would seem to be the last class to bring that player in.
After this season Nassib will be gone, and no one else has done much to stake a claim as the heir apparent. It seems to be an open battle between Kinder and Hunt, and now Broyld will be added to that mix. Broyld is a year behind schedule compared to the others, after having thrown only 56 passes for 31 completions, 427 yards, and 6 TDs at Milford last season.  
Broyld does however appear to have the highest upside of the three, with a bigger arm and better running ability than Hunt. It would be foolish not to give him a chance to become the Orange’s quarterback of the future. It’s obvious Marrone and Hackett are open to a system with a dual-threat quarterback based on who they’ve recruited recently. Broyld has shown he has the tools to be dynamic through the air and on the ground. His past isn’t completely clean, but his present is now finally as a member of the Orange, and his future very well could be as eventual starting quarterback at Syracuse.
Posted: Steve Neikam
9 responses to “Broyld is Only QB in Class of ’12, SU’s Best Hope for Nassib’s Successor?”
I’m hoping that next season brings some offensive changes. I’m sure Nassib will be the staring QB, but I believe that a more open offensive scheme will be created to take advantage of Broyld’s abilities. He can be brought in during games to slowly bring him up to speed with this new scheme and to throw a change of pace at opposing defenses. Even Marrone, with his rigid thinking, has to be aware that his pro-style offense isn’t going to work here, and he and his staff have to be working on an alternative plan. At least, that’s what I hope!!
I agree with Frank. I think the kid has a lot of potential if he can keep his head screwed on straight. I still don’t think we’ll know who our future QB is until after Spring camp though.
HCDM has to shed his ridgid style and open up the offense. If he doesn’t do this then he deserves what he gets. I am a seasons ticket holder and am fed up with the losing season and especially losing to Rutgirls and Pepperoni U (CONN) .. Go cuse
He won’t end up playing quarterback. He will probably make the move to linebacker because of his size and the lack of quarterback brains that were seeing in his time in milford academy. In the other hand Terrell Hunt,this dual threat quarterback can run the ball and has a great arm, he has been outstanding since day one of camp and it seems like he will have a chance so get some playing time this next season.
We have to give him a good look. He’s probably the best we recruited from NYS lately. We have to show some amount of loyalty there for the future.
Whether he eventually takes over as the starter or not will depend largely on how well he (and Hunt and Kinder) learn the system this spring/next season. I do think you will see on of those three get some time in special packages next year, similar to the way Nassib was used when Paulus was the starter. I also agree that Marrone needs to open up the offense more, and the fact that he’s been recruiting such athletic QBs including Broyld hints that he has plans to do just that.
I agree with Jose, Hunt will ultimately be the qb here due to the intangibles he has as well. I can’t imagine Broyld being here more than two years, though I do hope that’s not the case as he is an incredible athlete.
totally disagree
marrone needs to pull the offense back not open it up.
extra TE in most sets
I mean 2 TE and a fullback should be the base offense going forward.
Keep it between the tackles dive/counter those should really be the backbone of the offense and on occasion a play action pass or a qb run/option. Keep it between 10/15 passes a game.
This team needs to have an offense based on ball control, and marrone is recruiting towards that.
what is open the offense up mean?
I mean really do you think this team is a qb run away from being good hahaha.
How ’bout Hunt getting arrested for stealing a bottle of cologne? …we need a backup QB for our backup QBs in case they all get in trouble and get kicked off the team.