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College football rankings: Post-spring Top 25 – Clemson, Alabama vie for top spot

By Cody Williams

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – OCTOBER 20: Syracuse Orange Quarterback Tommy DeVito (13) runs with the ball during the overtime session of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Syracuse Orange on October 20, 2018, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – OCTOBER 20: Syracuse Orange Quarterback Tommy DeVito (13) runs with the ball during the overtime session of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Syracuse Orange on October 20, 2018, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
  • Notable Losses: Eric Dungey, Koda Martin, Jamal Custis, Kielan Whitner, Ryan Guthrie, Chris Slayton, Cody Conway
  • Notable Returners: Tommy DeVito, Alton Robinson, Taj Harris, Moe Neal, Sean Riley, Andre Cisco, Nykeim Johnson, Kendall Coleman
  • 2019 Recruiting Class Ranking: 53rd

Losing the school’s all-time leading passer is never an easy thing to contend with, but it’s what Dino Babers and the Syracuse Orange must contend with as they head into the 2019 season. Eric Dungey has graduated and can no longer man the offense, this coming off a 10-win season for the Orange that was highly impressive. Now it’s time for Tommy DeVito to take over the offense, even with big shoes to fill.

The good news for Syracuse is that DeVito has the pedigree to develop into a high-level starting quarterback in college football. On top of that, though, the Orange’s recruiting class was bolstered heading into National Signing Day as they were able to flip David Summers from his commitment to play for the Maryland Terrapins and give DeVito a talented backup option should they be forced to go in that direction for whatever reason.

On top of that, the Orange return eight starters from their 2018 defense and have high hopes on that side of the ball that their experience can carry them. Subsequently, if DeVito, the other experienced offensive players returning and some newcomers like transfers Trishton Jackson and some offensive linemen, can step up and carry the offense, Babers and the Orange should continue to be a threat in the ACC. Having said that, there is a distinct path for Syracuse to drop pretty quickly from the top 25 should things go awry early.

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