Babers may use two QBs
Syracuse is about to play its eighth game of the season, hosting No. 22 North Carolina State on Saturday, and the Orange is in the midst of a quarterback controversy.
This is the case because backup Tommy DeVito, a redshirt freshman, had three touchdown passes while leading the Orange to a 40-37 double-overtime win over North Carolina last week.
Senior Eric Dungey, replaced by DeVito because he was ineffective against the Tar Heels, is listed as the starter on the depth chart, but Babers declined to comment Monday on whether he has settled on a starter for the game against the Wolfpack.
“My thing is, when you have children, you always want to be fair,” Babers said. “You always want to be fair. When you’re the leader of any organization, the leader of a football team, you’ve got 107 sons. They’re not step-sons, they’re not strangers, they’re not kids who play in the neighborhood around the corner; they’re your sons. And you want to be fair.
“So that’s the big thing is just making sure that you’re fair and that you’re always crystal-clear with the family, that they know what’s going on.”
Babers gave perhaps his most firm support of DeVito yet during his weekly press conference on Monday.
“I think that there’s no doubt that the performances that he’s put in means that he’s good enough to play in a game and help us win,” Babers said.
“I’m really proud of where Tommy’s at. I think he’s working really hard. I think he’s been extremely humble and team-oriented about everything he’s done and I’m looking forward to his future with us.”
Babers also likes the idea of N.C. State having to prepare for both quarterbacks. Dungey and DeVito have different skill sets.
Dungey is more of a playmaker who is difficult to tackle in space. Defenses pack the box in an attempt to limit his success as a runner on designed plays and scrambles.
DeVito is more of a pocket passer. He hit deep passes to Jamal Custis twice and another time to Nykeim Johnson against North Carolina’s man coverage.
“Our family knows exactly what’s going on,” Babers said of his team and the quarterback battle, “and if they have any questions, they always ask the same person.”
Don’t be surprised if both quarterbacks see playing time against N.C. State. As the offensive coordinator at Arizona in 1998, he remembers rotating Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins when the Wildcats finished 12-1 and No. 4 in the final Associated Press poll.
When asked if that could work for this year’s Orange team, Babers said “I’m not sure” and smiled.