After a total failure of a season, Scott Shafer is losing one his few bright spots on the defensive side of the ball.  Durell Eskridge, a junior, has officially declared for the NFL Draft.  He was named to the All-ACC Third Team after his sophomore season.
In his junior season, Eskridge made a secondary-leading 68 tackles and a pick-six against Notre Dame.  He will finish his Orange career ranked 15th in tackles by a defensive back after starting every game this year.
Regarding Eskridge‚Äôs early exit, Shafer said, ‚Äú”Durell has been a pleasure to coach and to have in our program.¬† We, his Syracuse family, are excited for Durell and wish him continued success in this next step in his life.”
Eskridge had the chance to be “the guy” next season for the SU defense, but after the group’s poor showing, it isn’t a surprise that Eskridge chose to leave, and there really was no reason for him to stay.  Of the 11 defensive starters from 2014, the Orange will have to replace eight.  In the secondary specifically, the Orange will also lose corner back Brandon Reddish, the team leader in interceptions, Darius Kelly, and Ritchy Desir.  Other players could decide to leave early, but that doesn’t make much sense for anybody but Eskridge.
Over the summer, Eskridge was ranked on Mel Kiper’s draft board as the fifth-best underclassmen safety.  Since then, he has shown up on various other pre-draft rankings and figures to be picked in the middle rounds of next year’s draft.
In 2015, the Orange will return Julian Whigham at corner, and will most likely start Antwan Cordy opposite him.  At safety, the Orange will have to find a replacement for both Kelly and Desir on the strong side, and may start Chauncey Scissum at free safety, who backed up Eskridge this year.  The Orange will also be receiving a new group of commitments, headlined by safety Marquise Blair out of Ohio.  Chris Fredrick is another safety commitment out of Georgia.  The coaching staff may also turn to 2014 freshman Rodney Williams, who only played two games this season because of a lower-body injury.
It’s hard to imagine a season going worse than this year’s, but with the way things are shaping up on the defensive side of the ball, the offense is going to have to score points to compete in games.  The Orange simply will not have the defensive cushion to fall back on heading into a very important season.
Posted:  Jason Weingold
17 responses to “Eskridge Leaves SU Secondary in Shambles”
but after the group’s poor showing it’s not a surprise that Eskridge chose to leave……….
If one takes into account Durell’s background, upbringing- THAT is the reason he is choosing to leave CUSE with a year of eligibility left.
Durell is a great story…kept his “nose clean”, worked hard on his football skills, kept his grades up.
So now, he gives himself and his family a better life. He’s going to get PAID.
He would have left if we went 7-5 and won another bowl game.
The secondary isn’t the doomsday unit as yoseem to think. I worry about the cornerbacks more than safeties.I would add the offense to the root cause of this year’s failure. Lester and Shafer have this off season to get it right.
Jason..maybe if you hadn’t hyped an obviously weak squad you wouldn’t be so disappointed. I said 4 and 8.. Turned out to be 3-9. Don’t hear me in crying like a baby. If you knew what the hell you were talking about none of this would be a surprise. Gross has left us and Shafer with a mess. Shafer wasn’t a great choice but between what Nancy/Gross were willing to play and how the University views its men’s sports programs..he was our bargin basement choice. No respectable big time coach would come here.
Shafer is doing a credible job, under the circumstances. A few 18 olds decommit. A college football player decides to leave early..happens all across the Country. But it’s Shafers fault..He caused the loosing season. Grow up!
So Jason,Durell Eskridge came to Syracuse to play football,stayed clean by not making any mistakes and played the game with “heart”. He believes it’s time to go to the NFL where he can earn some money and help his family. Sounds like the kid has his head screwed on right and his parents should take a bow for a job well done in raising him,showing him what morals and responsibility are all about. So I think you should do an article about the job his parents have done. I hope Durell Eskridge is drafted and finds a home in the NFL that will help support him and his family.
I just read where Mitch Kimble will be transferring out at the end of this semister due to a lack of playing time. I hate to see this happen,but I understand his decision to leave. These kids today want immediate playing time when commiting to a college. I hope he finds what it is he’s after and becomes successful in his endeavor. I wish him all the luck in the world.
As far as the
QB situation goes at SyracuseI feel more changes are in the works. If Alin Edouard does arrive in January and we get this new QB coming in I believe that Austin Wilson will either switch positions or join Mitch Kimble and transfer out. That’s going to be a problem.
Wow, maybe if you guys ACTUALLY KNEW HOW TO READ, you’d understand that Jason didn’t once attack Eskridge’s credibility, hard work or leadership. Was simply saying that it’s a big loss for Syracuse, especially considering he was their best defender. “But after the group’s poor performance, it’s no surprise Eskridge has decided to leave,” doesn’t even remotely say anything bad about Eskridge as a person or player. You guys are pathetic! Jason’s always been a good writer for this website. And Cuse17, it’s hilarious how big and tough you are behind a keyboard. If you actually knew what the hell you were talking about, you might actually understand this article.
Steve; I’d like to respond in kind to your foolishness. You made the statement “Wow, maybe if you guys ACTUALLY KNEW HOW TO READ”, I figured you were talking to me also. I’ll let “Cuse17” do his own talking.
a) the very first statement that Jason made in the above article “After a total failure of a season”, says it all for me. He made it sound like the mice is fleeing and trying to get off of a sinking ship. Not once did Cuse17 attack Durell Eskridge as a person,he attacked the person who early on in the season hyped this 2014 squad as a second coming,and if you read the article carefully he also attacked DR.DARYL GROSS/NANCY CANTOR for helping to bring this mess upon the Syracuse Football program.
b) Over the summer, Eskridge was ranked on Mel Kiper’s draft board as the fifth-best underclassmen safety. Since then, he has shown up on various other pre-draft rankings and figures to be picked in the middle rounds of next year’s draft.
SO WHAT DOES THIS STATEMENT BY JASON TELL YOU? I hope that Durell Eskridge does get drafted next spring and I’m hoping it’s in the first or second rounds,but when it’s reporrted that he might get picked in the middle to late rounds it sounds to me like he might make the NFL going the UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT ROUTE. Durell Eskridge is a great individual,hoping to make a better life for himself and his family.
This article written by Jason Weingold is just predicting the “DOOM AND GLOOM” for the program next year. It’s not just Jason Weingold either. There isn’t a sports writer in the nation doesn’t matter who it is that knows how to write a good article anymore. But if you were an actual member of this website instead of a wanna-be member you would have known that.
Your comment about not knowing how to read,I think you ought keep your stupid comments to your self. I can’t wait to read Cuse17’s response,it ought to make for some great reading
Hey guys, I would just like to clarify a couple things. Not once in the entire article was Durell’s upbringing ever taken into question. I don’t think that was ever an issue. Durell should also not be faulted by making the jump to the NFL, not once did I ever make it seem like he should be. What Steve said regarding the general concept of the article is pretty accurate: Eskridge was a bright spot on the defense that the team definitely could have used next season, considering they’re already losing a majority of the starting unit. However, choosing to leave was a good decision for him, and it is only magnified by the terrible season that the Orange just had. Ron, I completely agree that Eskridge made the right choice, that was never in question. But, right or wrong, losing a talented player will always weaken the program. Finally, I definitely would not categorize this under the “doom and gloom” of Syracuse football. Setting the scene for a player’s departure is important, and finishing 3-9 with an incompetent offense definitely needs to be pointed out when a team’s top player declares for the draft.
Ron,
Steve isin’t worth your anger. Neither one of us suggested the young man was a bad kid, making a bad decission or did anything but represent his family, himself and Syracuse with anything but class.
I don’t think Jason did either. I do think Jason was doing a hatchet job on Shafer. I do think the writers on this site hyped the hell out of a poor 2014 team and then blame everyone because they had a season that didn’t live up to Jason and others imagination. It was a ridiculous article and the implication that Shafer owns the mess is bull.
Back to Steve…. We generally let people on this site voice their opinion without name calling, capital lettered childish outrages.. Scary stuff like “how big and tough…”..maybe it’s not Jason that needs to grow up!
CUSE17;
I hope I didn’t lead anyone on thinking I was upset responding to Steves comments about your post. Two comments he made was a)I thought he was calling guy’s like you and I stupid by not knowing how to read an article properly. if anyone was paying any kind of attention over the last couple years,one would have noticed that our secondary was weak and a lot of times the corners/safeties were out of position on defense. This year I thought they played a little better knowing that true freshmen were playing and getting some valuable game experience that will make them better as time goes on. When I made the “doom and gloom” statement,I was referring to the comment that Jason made “LEAVING OUR SECONDARY IN SHAMBLES”. for next year. I just don’t see it happening that way. I feel the 2015 class is only going to make this team stronger. b) when anyone makes a statement like”And Cuse17, it‚Äôs hilarious how big and tough you are behind a keyboard. If you actually knew what the hell you were talking about, you might actually understand this article”. We all have our opinions and some may not like what we have to say but making a statement getting personal by attacking someone isn’t the proper way of doing things. You Cuse17 having played for and graduated from Syracuse University probably know’s more about what happens behind the scene’s than Steve will ever know. I just wish people like him would think before they spew their garbage on any public forum.
Ron…
Amen…
Hope some more of the “old” regulars return..
always interesting reading.
With Mitch Kimble transferring out and redshirt junior safety Jaston George not returning for his final season leaves a few more spots open for recruiting. What’s the legal number of recruits a school can bring in in a season? I feel that some of those de-commits will change their minds again and recommit to the Cuse. With all of the coaching changes that are being made,if possible,it would be really nice to see Shafer bring in 30 recruits for the class of 2015
I’d like to expand futher my reasoning as to my “doom and gloom” comment when answering Jasons comment of “Eskridge Leaves SU Secondary in Shambles”.
Joining the group of CB’s and Safeties in 2015 will be Andrew Spence,Davion Ellison.Treevon Prater and Lamar Dawson. The 2014 freshmen will have to step up and I feel this group of players(Corey Winfield,Juwan Dowels,Rodney Williams,Joe Nassib,Cordell Hudson,Chauncey Scissum,Eric Jackson,Antwan Cordy and Joe Stanard)will the best group since the 1995-1997 group of DB led by Donovan Darius.
When this current recruiting season is over,I strongly believe that Shafer will pull a couple maybe three recruits that will surprise us all. Graduation changes the dynamics of every college football team every year. It’s not so much that Durrell’s leaving for the draft is leaving Syracuses secondary in shambles,it’s Syracuse is in a position now more than ever to say they’re reloading/building the secondary into a formidable group that will play together and become one of the best over the next 4 years within the ACC. I didn’t even get into the LB’s that will be led by Zaire Franklin and Colton Moskal.
The young players/guns will lead Syracuses defense over the next 4 years. I’m hoping that the offensive can get their act together and start putting points on the board. In conclusion Old Mother Hubbards cupboard isn’t empty,I say it’s full and ready to reload with some outstanding young talent.
I hope he won’t do this! it is an awful thing for the team!
Goodmorning DA. I’ve noticed another messsage under the SUBMIT COMMENT BOX. Are we going to have more problems again? I tried answering a post by Tony Saprano on another thread and it wouldn’t let me make the post. it disappeared when I hit the submit button.
Congratulations to the Womens Basketball Team by beating North Carolina Central improving their overall record to 7-1 for the season.
Job well done ladies,keep up the good work.
They ran an article on syr.com website this morning comparing Syracuse Athletics before and after Dr. Gross became the AD at Syracuse University.
FOOTBALL
Before: 74-46 overall (.617), 44-25 conference, 6 bowls
During: 45-79 overall (.363), 19-53 conference, 4 bowls
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Before: 246-94 (.724), 111-59 conference, 8 NCAA bids, 2 Final Fours, 1 national title, 0 conference tournament titles During: 268-88 (.753), 117-57 conference, 8 NCAA bids, 1 Final Four, 2 conference tournament titles
MEN’S LACROSSE
Before: 126-31 (.802), 10 final fours, 4 national titles
During: 118-44 (.728), 22-7 conference, 4 final fours, 2 national titles
Looking at these results I’d have to conclude that he’s failing to deliver what’s expected of an AD.
The reason that I‚Äôm sharing this information is,it‚Äôs being reported now that a freshman DT Jalen Harvey will join Jaston George and Mitch Kimble and transfer out of Syracuse during the off season. WILL THERE BE MORE TO TRANSFER? Things are only going to get more interesting over the next year. It’s time for Dr. Gross to go and for the University to show the fans that the adminstration is getting serious by supporting the football team.
CALLING ALL CARS,CALLING ALL CARS be on the lookout for a guy named Terry,a member of the “Orange Fizz website” who has been missing for 3 months. He stands approximately 6’1” weighs 245/260 lbs,has silver lined hair and is a very devoted family man and cares greatly about his grandchildren. He is a “hardnosed Syracuse Football Fan” that lives in the Ithaca/Elmira NY area. If located approach carefully, he has the knowledge of the intricacies surrounding the football team and isn’t afraid to let people know how to fix their problems.
If found and caught please have him return to the Band of Brothers on the
Orange Fizz website where is opinions/insight is truly missed.
Thank you all for you help in resolving this issue.