O.G. is going all the way up these two lists
Plenty of eyes have been on the new pass-heavy Syracuse Orange offense early this season. Between QB Kyle McCord slinging the ball for over a thousand passing yards through three games and junior WR Trebor Pena breaking out as the team’s top volume target, there’s been a lot to like.
Which almost makes you forget about another key piece of the system.
Oronde Gadsden II has returned to his 2022 form, with 15 receptions for 213 yards and three touchdowns so far. At the pace he’s going, O.G. should soon make his way to the top of the record books.
Gadsden is currently third in career receptions by a Syracuse tight end with 83. Nick Provo (2008-11) holds the record with 92, with Chris Gedney (1989-92) right behind him at 91.
He is also second in career receiving yards by an SU TE with 1,249. Gedney had 1,334 during his time with the Orange.
Oronde needs just 10 catches and 86 yards to break those respective records – something that, barring injury, could happen very soon.
O.G. previously set program records for most single-season TE receptions (61), single-season TE receiving yards (969) and single-game TE receiving yards (141). The single-season receptions and yards are also 10th and seventh respectively among all Syracuse players.
Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Some other trends to watch:
- McCord has joined Ryan Nassib (2012) and Eric Dungey (2016) as the only QBs in program history with three consecutive 300+ yard games. He’d be the first to do it four games in a row with a repeat, however unlikely that is, against Holy Cross.
- With 86 completions through three games, McCord is on pace to break the single-season record held by Nassib – 294 in 2012. Nassib also holds second place with 259 the year before, and Eric Dungey has the 3-4-5 spots. He’s also on pace to break Nassib’s passing yards record of 3,749, set in 2012 as well. Dungey is a distant second with 2,868 in 2018.
- It has been 112 game minutes and counting since SU allowed points to an FCS school. The last two contests were shutouts – the second half against Wagner in 2022 was shortened to 10-minute quarters.