With Syracuse football training camp less than a month away, The Daily Orange beat writers, Chris Libonati, Jon Mettus and Matt Schneidman, will analyze one of the top 10 preseason storylines, top 10 position battles or reveal one of 10 player files each day. Check out dailyorange.com and follow along here to countdown to camp.

Position: Weakside linebacker
Year: Junior
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 218

Why he’s key for SU: Parris Bennett is one of a couple young linebackers with a good amount of playing experience. In a year where SU is expected to suffer a setback with its secondary and defensive line, the consistency of the Orange’s linebacking crew will be important.

Bennett’s backup on the post-spring depth chart, Marqez Hodge, didn’t get into the spring game until late. Hodge has been relatively inconsistent for Syracuse over the last couple of seasons. Supplanting Hodge was big for Bennett last year, but Bennett will have to take on more responsibility in 2016 than he did in 2015.

---

MORE PRESEASON COVERAGE:

• Syracuse football position battle to watch, No. 9: 2nd outside receiver
• Syracuse football preseason storylines, No. 9: How players adjust to revamped conditioning
• Syracuse football preseason player file No. 10: Cole Murphy

---

During training camp last season, SU coaches had high praise for Bennett and he showed why. Bennett’s productivity jumped 40 tackles from 2014, despite playing in the same number of games. Former defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough called him SU’s most athletic blitzer.

Bennett had three games of eight or more tackles (Central Michigan, Wake Forest and Virginia) in 2015 and started eight games. Despite missing the final four games of the 2015 season, Bennett tallied the third-most tackles for SU with 44. Thirty-two of those tackles were solo tackles, and he racked up another 3.5 tackles for a loss.

By nearly any metric, Syracuse’s defense was horrid last season. The Orange finished 97th in average scoring margin, 111th in yards allowed per game, 97th in opponents’ points per play and 113th in opponent red-zone scoring percentage.

Having a productive linebacking crew will be key for SU to avoid an even worse showing in 2016.

Read more about Parris Bennett:

• Parris Bennett impresses in battle for 3rd linebacker spot
• Parris Bennett has the edge for 3rd linebacker spot and other notes

Published on July 18, 2016 at 12:25 pm

Contact Chris: cjlibona@syr.edu | @ChrisLibonati