Earlier this week, George McDonald unveiled Syracuse’s new offensive plan of attack next season in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

“We’re going to open it up on offense and go full-bore fast,” McDonald said. “Like an Oregon, Texas A&M style of offense.”

The offensive coordinator referenced an incoming class of playmakers set to bolster a receiving corps that was riddled with injury and ridiculed for performance in 2013.

Syracuse’s Class of 2014 includes a plethora of pass-catchers, the likes of which SU hasn’t seen in recent memory. They’re being touted as big, fast and — as Syracuse’s head coach emphasized — able to go up in traffic and make plays.

“We weren’t just looking at size,” Scott Shafer said. “We were looking at the video tape and seeing who could make plays when people were matched face to face with them.”

Shafer and his staff sought out receiving threats capable of fighting for position and winning jump balls, and they got them. The group plays into the more open, dynamic system McDonald referenced.

Last season, Syracuse’s passing game ranked third to last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in yards per completion. It lacked any semblance of a downfield threat, even in the team’s late-season surge.

“I think part of opening up the offense has to do with guys who have the ability to make plays,” Shafer said, “and make plays when they’re covered.”

That attribute holds true for four-star centerpiece K.J. Williams, as well as three-star wideouts Steve Ishmael and Corey Cooper and larger targets, Adly Enoicy and Jamal Custis.

All five appear capable of becoming downfield weapons for incoming three-star quarterback Alin Edouard and two-star quarterback A.J. Long.

“We have a lot of weapons, and we’re going to use them,” Edouard said.

Williams, at 6 feet 2 inches and 185 pounds, is expected to contribute immediately, as the program’s first four-star wideout since Marcus Sales in 2008.

Ishmael is slightly thinner, but brings a similarly dynamic build — and dreadlocks. And Cooper was initially a signee last season, but spent the fall semester at Jireh (Matthews, N.C.) Prep after failing to meet the NCAA’s academic requirements last summer.

Enoicy (6-5, 220 pounds) and Custis (6-6, 215 pounds) are both listed as tight ends by Scout.com.

Enoicy — cousins with Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard — chose the Orange over South Carolina, Southern California, Auburn, Florida State and Florida, among others. Custis is also a star on the hardcourt and hasn’t ruled out trying to walk on to the SU men’s basketball team.

“I’m excited about the movement forward with the playmakers,” Shafer said.

But when asked about the expectations he holds for the group, Shafer was hesitant to set too high a bar, or praise too heavily.

He said each player deserves a chance to be a freshman and go through the learning curve. He referenced Brisly Estime, who was slow to start his freshman season before spring-boarding the Orange to a Texas Bowl win with his 70-yard punt return in the waning moments against Minnesota.

“I hate to anoint kids until they get here and prove themselves,” Shafer said. “We’ll never know until we get them into camp and throw that ball up to him.”

This year’s group, though, may not need quite as long as Estime did.

The returning group of wide receivers isn’t one that strikes fear in opposing defenses but with the incoming batch of playmakers, it could be.

Published on February 6, 2014 at 12:22 am

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1