Syracuse fans can breathe a little sigh of relief as Shamarko Thomas announces via Twitter he will return to the Hill next season:
‚ÄúI’ve decided to put my NFL career on hold for another year and will remain at SU for another season to further develop myself as an athlete.‚Äù
This is a crucial month for SU football, and let’s hope Shamarko’s decision represents a fresh start in the new year. Over the next 30 days, Doug Marrone and his staff will need to work tirelessly to build a respectable recruiting class to make up for some gaping holes left because of the draft, suspensions and graduation. The good news is scholarships have now opened up to add some talent.
The Orange was flying high after a dominating win over West Virginia on national television. Since then, the program has endured a series of blows. The Orange collapsed losing the last five games of the season and missing a bowl. Phillip Thomas was suspended for an entire calendar year. Chandler Jones chose to test the NFL draft waters. Keon Lyn tweeted he will have offseason surgery.
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So thank goodness Shamarko is returning to a defensive secondary that will need his experience. ST’s departure would have meant three of the unit’s best players were gone from a defense that struggled even with them.
Thomas had an up and down season, due in some respect to injuries. He was still effective though, finishing third on the team in total tackles (67). The secondary was eaten up all year, even when Shamarko was playing. But with Thomas was sidelined, the defensive backfield was torched. Robert Woods and USC stomped all over SU’s secondary and the Orange then¬†made Toledo‚Äôs Eric Page look like… well, Robert Woods.
From his safety position, Shamarko has the ability to both come up and play the run, and cover receivers in the slot and make plays in pass coverage. He is great in the open field and a secure tackler that minimizes big gains. When Thomas is playing, the entire defense seems to take on his attitude and play with an edge.
Why is Shamarko staying put for his senior season?
‚ÄúCusenation I feel like I’m not done yet I feel like¬†@PThomas_1. Nd¬†@ChanJones99¬†set their mark at cuse as great athletes I feel like I didn‚Äôt‚Äù
Had Shamarko received high-round draft grades, he probably would have left SU whether he felt he had left his mark or not. But some humility can only serve him well. A chance to play an entire season healthy is an exciting prospect. The next step for Doug Marrone is to piece together an impressive recruiting class following a gut-wrenching season. It won’t erase the some of the tough news the program has received, but there’s no time to look backward for SU football.
Posted: Dave Van Moffaert
12 responses to “Is Shamarko’s Return the Start of a Good January for SU Football?”
hopefully program will have a good january
thomas returning doesn’t do that that though.
college football is about offense, let me know when su gets a guy who will help the team score touchdowns.
could care less about small safety two can’t cover and is a poor tackler.
The success of the SU program is based on the offense. If we continue with the pro style with a QB who is not mobile then let’s forget about 2012 and look to another year of Nassib and a lothargix=c offense.
I hate to disgaree with anyone named Tim Tebow, but Shamarko is a great tackler and seems to have been plagued by injuries that past couple years. Getting another year out of a veteran secondary player will only help the underclassman and help his draft stock.
Agree with you on the offensive side though. Def need to get out of the pro style offense. Need to start utilizing our dual threat QB’s in Kinder, Hunt and possibly Broyld
shamarko doesn’t matter
it was posted by insider on the syracusefan.com messageboard that they will have four new db starters next season so shamarko isn’t even going to start.
Good to know the fans have so much hope… Sad sad SMS we have at cuse. I’m tim is the kinda fan that doesn’t go to the game and is a Monday morning quarterback.
Tebow- there is no way Shamarko doesn’t start next season. Please. And I think Thomas is a real good tackler. He is always around the ball and usually doesn’t miss tackles.
and Cuse will go with the dual threat QB’s after Nassib graduates.
It’s a possibility, but does Marrone put his possible career at ‘Cuse on Nassib shoulders for another year?
I like Nassib, has potential, but seems to S^$% his pants when pressure gets near him. Needs to utilize his legs.
And i like Marrone alot. Not too many coach’s out there that aren’t sucked into the corporate/booster greed. Runs a clean program. But changes need to be made somewhere. Whether it be the playbook or personnel. Nassib should have carried this offense much better.
If Cuse goes with Nassib at QB next season would they then begin play in the ACC with a new inexperienced QB? Does not seem like a wise choice to me.
I think DM has to go in a new direction at QB next year to get some experience for the move to the ACC. The only way i think he goes with Nassib is for fear that he might not be the coach at Cuse for the move to the ACC.
Orangecrush22=HCDM fan troll. You’d #@$t your knickers to if you had to play every play with our OL in front of you. Shamarko is fine. HCDM is a major reason why we are getting close to those dreaded GROB years again. DA-Please tell us EXACTLY how many schollies are left for the 2012 class. With all the HCDM’s defections(it seems) is that only good for the 2013 class only.
Why isn’t anyone talking about the Broyld kid, he will win if he gets his head out of the clouds.
6’3″ 235lbs and can run and throw. Let hime play next season and nassib won’t see the field again.
My prediction: Next year Nassib will start at quarterback and get 70-90% of the snaps. Either Hunt, Kinder, or Broyld, whoever wins out, will get the remainder of the snaps. This will give us experience at quarterback, the change up in the offense that we need, and some experience at QB for the following year.
And Oh yeah Shamarko starts next year without a doubt.
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