Syracuse football: Marlowe Wax returns to field after injury

The Orange defensive leader is back after an injury in Game One.

Many Syracuse Orange fans expected Marlowe Wax to return to the field for Syracuse’s upcoming game against Virginia Tech. His original timeline and target game to return was at Pittsburgh. However, as the game approached, Orange head coach Fran Brown strongly indicated that Wax would most like not be available for the Pitt game.

That’s why many fans responded with shock when ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Wax would play against the Panthers about 75 minutes before the game started.

For Wax, the target was always to return within the original six week timeline that was projected for his lower body injury that he suffered in week one.

“Pitt was the game I wanted to be back for, because I knew I could do it,” said Wax. “So I had to put a lot of work in and a lot of time in.”

Brown had said in his weekly press conference before Pitt that Wax would most likely return against Virginia Tech. However, Wax showed enough improvement in his mobility and cutting movement to give Orange coaches the confidence to play the linebacker against the Panthers.

“The kid’s ready to play and wants to play,” said Brown. “He’s an NFL player. Why would you not want that kind of talent on the football field?”

Wax seemed set up for another banner season with the Orange after earning Second Team All-ACC honors last year. He led the team in tackles, tackles for loss and forced fumbles last season. However, Wax has been forced to the sideline due to his lower body injury that he suffered against Ohio during the 3rd quarter in the first game of the season. During that time, the Baltimore native has had to just watch as Syracuse played.

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“Definitely let me just see the game a little bit different,” said Wax. “Let me just be a different leader. I felt like a coach most of the time, just seeing how practice show go and how plays should go.”

Wax played for the majority of the Pitt game, recording two tackles and a sack on his return to the field. He said that everything “held really good” but that the mental side of his game still need time to recover.

“It was a lot of things that had to fix up here,” said Wax. “I had to just lock into myself and go out there, that everything was gonna be good. It took some time but it was good.”

A healthier Wax and the Orange now return home to take on Virginia Tech, with one more win sending Syracuse to bowl eligibility.