Three players have left the Syracuse football team, according to an article published by The Post-Standard on Friday.

Nose tackle Cory Boatman, safety Shu Mungwa and kicker Riley Dixon will not be with the Orange when training camp opens up Saturday.

Boatman confirmed that he graduated from SU and is no longer with the Orange.

The three players were not included on the roster in Syracuse’s media guide. Mungwa and Dixon are still listed in the Syracuse University directory.

Boatman was slated to be a starter on Syracuse’s post-spring depth chart. The 6-foot-1, 281-pound tackle saw time in every game last season and started in one. Boatman, a fifth-year senior, finished his SU career having made 15 tackles, nine of them solo.

Reached by phone on Friday, Boatman said his departure from the team was a “long story,” but it was not related to any sort of dissatisfaction with head coach Doug Marrone.

“It’s a lot of miscommunication with a lot of different things,” Boatman said. “It had nothing to do with Coach Marrone or anything, he did everything he could to keep me in school.”

Boatman said he graduated SU in May.

Mungwa, who impressed head coach Doug Marrone during the spring, did not play in any games last season. He was listed third on the post-spring depth chart behind Shamarko Thomas and Ritchy Desir.

The sophomore from Oradell, N.J., made 35 tackles during his senior season at Bergen Catholic High School, and had an offer from Stanford out of high school.

Dixon, who attended Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, walked on to the SU football team last season, but never saw time in any games.

Published on August 3, 2012 at 5:46 pm

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman