Carter wins Big East accolade thanks to career-high performance versus Colgate
Off to its best start in seven seasons, Syracuse may have found some additional momentum heading into the Big East portion of its schedule.
Running back Delone Carter was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week for his performance Saturday against Colgate, the conference announced Monday. Carter, a senior from Copley, Ohio, rushed for a career-best 172 yards and four touchdowns on just 14 carries Saturday against the Raiders in the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse has a bye week this weekend and will face South Florida in Tampa, Fla., on Oct. 9 to begin its seven-game Big East slate.
‘The line did a great job opening up the hole,’ fullback Adam Harris said. ‘Delone is explosive when he gets into that open field. He is going to be hard to catch. He showed great effort getting into the end zone.’
Against the Raiders, Carter registered his eighth career game with at least 100 yards rushing. Through four games, Carter ranks third in the conference in rushing, with 104.8 yards per game this season, and is tied for the conference lead with five rushing touchdowns. He’s also averaging 5.7 yards per carry, which is the highest of his career with a minimum of 50 attempts.
Carter now ranks No. 11 on SU’s career rushing list with 2,290 yards.
Over the previous five seasons, the Orange only had three Offensive Players of the Week in the conference — Mike Williams in 2009, Andrew Robinson in 2007 and Damien Rhodes in 2005. Already in 2010, the Orange has two through four games.
With the honor, Carter joins Ryan Nassib as two of the four Players of the Week in the Big East through the first four weeks of the season. Nassib won the award following SU’s 29-3 victory over Akron in its season opener Sept. 4.
Just last season, SU finished second-to-last in total offense in the Big East. Four games into this season, the Orange is third in the conference in points per game (32.2) and fourth in total offense per game (385.5 yards). Much of that credit goes to Carter and the running back’s breakout performance Saturday against Colgate.
‘It feels good,’ Carter said. ‘It feels like that’s what we should be used to doing, and I can’t wait to do it again. I had the opportunity to gain a rhythm and feed off the energy of my teammates around me.’
Provo expected to practice
Tight end Nick Provo left Saturday’s game against Colgate with what appeared to be a head injury, causing speculation that he may have had a concussion. Marrone declined to comment on Provo’s condition to members of the media following the game, causing further speculation.
But the Syracuse coach cleared the air Monday on the Big East coaches’ weekly teleconference, confirming Provo is expecting to practice later this week.
‘We feel very good right now, going into the week, that he’s going to be OK and ready to practice with us on Thursday, Friday and Saturday — and be ready to go for South Florida,’ Marrone said.
Provo is currently third on the team in receiving, with 10 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown.
Holmes and Merkerson Excel
Heading into Saturday’s game, Syracuse hadn’t collected a single interception in three games. Despite their talent, SU cornerbacks Mike Holmes and Da’Mon Merkerson had been inconsistent at times.
But against Colgate’s subpar passing attack, both had arguably their best games of the season. Holmes grabbed SU’s first interception of the season in the first half, returning it for a career-long 42 yards. Later in the third quarter, Merkerson snagged his first career interception as he barely got his feet down in bounds near the left sideline.
‘I was really focused on the ball,’ Merkerson said. ‘I am a receiver. I feel like I have a decent sideline presence. I was just focused on the ball. I bobbled it a little bit, but I got the other foot down.’
Heading into Big East play, the Orange will likely need both to play well for the defense to succeed.
Rene out for season
Less than two weeks after losing receiver Aaron Weaver for the season to a torn ACL, Syracuse lost another receiver during SU’s 42-7 victory over Colgate Saturday. According to a press release issued by the Syracuse athletic department, freshman wideout Steve Rene will be sidelined for the rest of the year with a shoulder injury.
Rene, who had been a contributor primarily on special teams, left Saturday’s game with the injury. An MRI was taken Sunday, revealing an injury to the shoulder joint that will require surgery.
In four games this season, Rene returned three punts and made one tackle. He is one of 15 true freshmen to have appeared for the Orange this season.
This and that
Against Colgate, the Orange moved to 6-1 under Doug Marrone when leading at the half. … Running back Antwon Bailey’s 37-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was his first career touchdown reception. … Holmes’ first-half interception was just the first of the season for the Orange. … Defensive end Mikhail Marinovich collected a career-high six tackles against the Raiders.
