These past few years the Syracuse run game has proven to be one of the team’s strongest units. Although the committee has changed year after year, someone new has always stepped up. This season, a new gap at running back needed to be filled after LeQuint Allen handled most of the carries over the past two years. Safe to say, the position looks to be in good hands, continuing a recent legacy of handing the baton from Sean Tucker to Allen and now to Yasin Willis. Unlike his predecessors, though, Willis appears
to be the first Syracuse running back ever to record three touchdowns in his first start.
On Saturday, Willis proved to be that guy, as the true sophomore scored three touchdowns in the loss to the Volunteers. On 23 carries, he also added 91 yards. His scoring provided the spark Syracuse needed at times, even if it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Tennessee’s high-powered offense.
One thing that stood out about the Orange run game Saturday was the tempo that came with it. Syracuse frequently pushed a hurry-up, no-huddle offense, and it still benefited the running backs. The other back in the rotation was Offensive Coordinator Jeff Nixon’s son, Will Nixon, a transfer from Washington. Together, the two created a strong balance: Nixon as the speed and pass-catching threat, Willis as the power option handling goal-line duties. Combined, they rushed for 124 yards, with Nixon adding another 29 yards through the air.
Looking ahead to UConn, the run game needs to be dominant if the Orange want to secure their first win of the season. Central Connecticut rushed for 129 yards against the Huskies last week, but UConn still rolled to a 59–13 victory. That result is a reminder that this UConn team is no easy test, and Syracuse will have to lean heavily on its new backfield duo to set the tone inside the Dome. FanDuel currently lists the Orange as 6.5-point favorites, but the outcome could likely have to do with whether Willis can build on his strong debut and whether Nixon can continue providing balance as a change-of-pace threat. Tomorrow is the duo’s first chance to play in the dome together.
