ESPN play-by-play commentator Bob Wischusen and analyst Louis Riddick slammed Syracuse star cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr. for clearly faking an injury during Saturday’s season opener against Tennessee.
With less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter, Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar hit Mike Matthews for a 16-yard catch to set up a fresh set of downs at the Syracuse 12-yard line.
Just as Tennessee was getting ready to run its next play, Demetres Samuel Jr. decided to give the Orange defense a rest by faking an injury. Samuel lined up in his spot and suddenly fell to the ground before the Volunteers could run the play:
Wischusen and Riddick then criticized both teams for selling injuries, with the former noting it’s a problem across college football.
“If you’re serious about getting this out of the game, then you have to call that,” Riddick said. “You have to punish defenses for doing it.”
Bob Wischusen couldn’t help but throw even more shade at Demetres Samuel Jr., saying he “made a miraculous recovery” after returning to the field.
Per ESPN, the 17-year-old Samuel Jr. finished the day with two tackles and one pass breakup in the 45-26 loss.
Demetres Samuel Jr. & Syracuse Will Look To Rebound vs. UConn
The Orange finished 10-3 last year and capped off the successful season with a blowout victory over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. Expectations are much higher under second-year head coach Fran Brown, but it’s premature to hit the panic button after a tough loss to the 24th-ranked team.
Syracuse has little time to dwell on Saturday’s blowout loss, as the UConn Huskies will visit on Saturday (12:00 p.m. EST). That will be the first of a mini two-game homestand for the Orange, who will then host Colgate on Sept. 12.
