Per reporter Stephen Bailey, there are five reasons the undefeated Orangemen will upset Clemson. Battering Lawrence is one of them:
Clemson is starting a true freshman quarterback, but this isn’t your normal first-year signal-caller. The No. 1 overall recruit in last year’s class, Trevor Lawrence stands at 6 feet, 6 inches and is fully capable of shredding the Orange defense from the pocket.
Priority No. 1 for SU’s unit has to be pressuring Lawrence, who has only been sacked once this year. Lawrence previously split time with senior Kelly Bryant, who decided to transfer this week after being relegated to a backup role.
SU junior defensive end Alton Robinson has five sacks over the last two games. Redshirt senior defensive tackle Chris Slayton knocked Bryant out of last year’s game and helped seal the win with a fourth-quarter sack of Zerrick Cooper.
Those two, as well as junior defensive end Kendall Coleman and the rest of a group that can go nine players deep, must find a way to make Lawrence uneasy for SU to have a chance to win.
“The goal is to make any quarterback uncomfortable, but especially a guy that’s making his first start,” Coleman said. “… We definitely want to get back there, get in his face and let him know that we’re there — let him feel us.”
This will likely be one of the most-watched games of the day. If Syracuse comes away with the upset then all hell will break loose in Clemson.
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