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The modern starting tight end must have receiver-like qualities. They’ve evolved from being blockers first, pass-catchers second, to the total opposite. Dynamic downfield options like four-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski and Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez furthered this narrative. Current stars of the position, like the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers, fit this mold, too.

Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II is no exception. The 6-foot-5, 236-pound bruiser runs like a gazelle in the open field and dominates linebackers across the middle. This past Saturday, though, Gadsden more regularly lined up on the outside — where he proved he can also beat cornerbacks with ease.

Gadsden tallied his most receptions and yards since SU’s win over UNLV on Oct. 4, hauling in nine catches for 114 receiving yards and one touchdown against Boston College. While the Orange ultimately lost, Gadsden’s day at wide receiver gave Syracuse an edge. Quarterback Kyle McCord threw for his most passing yards of the year, 392, spurred by his connection with Gadsden — who earned Atlantic Coast Conference Receiver of the Week honors.

Here’s a breakdown of Gadsden’s performance lining up wide in Syracuse’s (6-3, 3-3 ACC) 37-31 loss to Boston College (5-4, 2-3 ACC) last Saturday:

2nd quarter, 6:40 — Catch of the year?

I’m breaking chronology to put this play first. That’s because it may be the catch of the year. Gadsden’s marvelous, difficult-to-believe touchdown grab in the bottom right corner of the end zone showed exactly why he should line up as a wide receiver more. He’s SU’s best playmaker, and needs more chances to produce highlight-reel snags like this.

The Orange faced a first-and-10 from BC’s 17-yard line here. Their offense struggled up until then, though McCord drove them into the red zone for the first time all day late in the second quarter. Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon dialed up a single-back shotgun formation with 11 personnel, as tight end Dan Villari flanked the right side as a down lineman. Gadsden lined up as an X receiver on the same side as Villari.

Boston College stacked the box with eight players and no high safety. So, Gadsden took advantage in a one-on-one with Eagles’ cornerback Isaiah Farris. Upon the snap, Gadsden slightly accelerated five yards forward, then stutter-stepped just before the 10-yard line, using his left arm to create a tiny cushion of separation with Farris.

McCord recognized this and immediately lobbed a ball up in Gadsden’s direction. While Farris’ back was turned to it, Gadsden didn’t have a clear lane to catch the ball. The throw flew toward Gadsden’s back shoulder. He adjusted by leaping up into the air while whipping his free right arm around his body. Somehow, Gadsden corralled the ball with one hand, curling his wrist inward to secure possession before hitting the turf.

The acrobatic touchdown catch left Farris desperately grabbing onto Gadsden’s lower half as the receiver began to celebrate his feat, which cut SU’s deficit to 14-7.

2nd quarter, 8:50 — Gadsden makes a turnaround snag for 30

To get the aforementioned touchdown drive started, Gadsden pulled in another reception off his back shoulder. Syracuse had a first-and-10 from its 12-yard line, as Gadsden lined up in the weak-side slot while BC’s defense sported a cover 2 look.

Gadsden’s vertical ability as a tight end makes him one of the top pure athletes at his position — hence why it was so easy for him to slot in at wide receiver. Here, he beats Boston College’s secondary with a simple go route.

The Eagles dropped down from their cover 2 set on Gadsden’s side, as safety Carter Davis moved into the box while cornerback Daveon Crouch blitzed. Upon receiving the snap in the shotgun, McCord immediately darted his eyes right. He wanted Gadsden. BC’s blitz didn’t spur much pressure, leaving Gadsden with more free room than he had originally.

Gadsden ran near the sideline with slight separation on Davis. But you don’t need much separation on defenders when you’re a 6-foot-5 receiver.

Davis, at 6-foot-1, couldn’t do more than get a single hand up close to Gadsden’s face as McCord’s throw sailed toward him. Gadsden spotted the ball heading to his back shoulder and jumped up just before the 40-yard line. He turned in the direction of the ball, extended both arms in the air and aggressively slammed the ball down into his chest.

His momentum brought him to the ground at the 42-yard line, securing a key 30-yard first-down reception.

4th quarter, 5:28 — Perfectly executed in-route

Syracuse trailed 37-28 on this second-and-2 play from its own 43-yard line. With it being a two-possession game, and lacking time for a comeback, chunk plays were a necessity.

Boston College went with a 4-2-5 defense here, giving Gadsden some space to work in the middle area of the field. The Orange were in the shotgun with four receivers split out wide. Gadsden was in the slot. As McCord took his three-step drop back, Gadsden ran 10 yards upfield, then cut around his defender, Crouch, at the right hash marks for an in-route.

The play was over once McCord threw the ball. Gadsden ran a flawless in-route. When McCord began winding up for a pass, Gadsden was slashing to the middle and Crouch’s momentum was heading in the opposite direction. There was a high safety, Omar Thornton, looming over Gadsden. But his chemistry with McCord allowed him to haul in the catch well before Thornton could think about breaking the pass up.

McCord’s ball led Gadsden into greener pastures within the hash marks, which let Gadsden turn upfield a tad to gain extra yardage. Thornton brought him down across BC’s 40-yard line, yet the damage was already done as Gadsden’s pristine route running thrust Syracuse into Eagles’ territory late.

4th quarter, 3:11 — McCord finds his safety valve

Even as a receiver, Gadsden showed off his tight-end-like qualities. Here, while it may have been small in the grand scheme, Gadsden acted as a safety valve for McCord to help move the chains on a must-score possession.

Syracuse had a first-and-10 from midfield, as the Orange lined up with five receivers out wide in an empty set. Gadsden was positioned in the slot while Boston College rushed four pass rushers and sported a deep zone in the secondary. Nixon clearly designed this play for Gadsden as a nice and easy way for SU to garner a quick first down.

After McCord received the snap, Trebor Peña and Darrell Gill Jr. ran streaks on the far right side as LeQuint Allen Jr. and Jackson Meeks cut toward the left sideline. They created room for Gadsden, the lone receiver who ran a short route. He simply leaked to the middle of the field, where no BC defender stood, as McCord found Gadsden from five yards away.

From there, Gadsden faced Crouch, defensive back Khari Johnson and linebacker Owen McGowan — who all converged on him before reaching the first-down marker. Gadsden used his brute strength to bulldoze his way through all three of them to inch to the Eagles’ 40-yard line, moving the chains on an 11-yard pickup.

Tight ends are supposed to aid quarterbacks on short passes. But Gadsden’s athleticism makes him particularly dangerous when McCord uses his safety valve.

Published on November 12, 2024 at 9:39 pm

Contact Cooper at: ccandrew@syr.edu | @cooper_andrews