Football

Rob Trudo and Josh Parris will be game-time decisions for Central Michigan

Daily Orange File Photo

Rob Trudo (55) is Syracuse's starting center and will be a game-time decision for its 12:30 p.m. game against Central Michigan on Saturday.

Syracuse’s offense could be down two more starters against Central Michigan on Saturday, as tight end Josh Parris and center Rob Trudo will be game-time decisions.

“They were both at practice, they’re getting work, but you know, we’ll see,” SU head coach Scott Shafer said at a Thursday press conference. “It will be a game-time decision, no different than (Devante) McFarlane a couple weeks back.

“They’re working hard and feeling better, I’ll tell you that much. It’s just a matter of if we feel like they’re ready to help us win.”

McFarlane, Syracuse’s starting running back, didn’t end up playing Week 1. Offensive coordinator Tim Lester said keeping McFarlane was a precautionary measure, and it’s possible the Orange holds out Parris and Trudo so the pair can get healthy for when the schedule stiffens against Louisiana State on Sept. 26. If Parris and Trudo don’t play against the Chippewas at 12:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Kendall Moore and Jason Emerich are in line to start at tight end and center, respectively.

Moore, a junior, was shifted to center during spring practice then moved back to tight end during training camp. He caught two passes for 26 yards in SU’s 30-17 win over Wake Forest last week after Parris exited with an upper-body injury in the first half.



Trudo’s injury has not been classified as upper- or lower-body by Syracuse, but it looked like a defender crashed into his right leg on the play that knocked him out of the game against the Demon Deacons. Emerich, who started two games at center last year in place of an injured John Miller, closed out the game after Trudo went to the locker room. Shafer expressed confidence in Emerich’s ability to start and work with freshman quarterback Eric Dungey, should the Orange need him to.

“(Emerich) does a great job visually and verbally communicating to the guys next to him,” Shafer said. “And he’s worked hard and he’s made good improvements, so he’s ready to go.”





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