Eric Dungey didn’t see the movie “Concussion.” It wasn’t deliberate, he just prefers Netflix. And 113 days since last addressing the media, the rising sophomore quarterback avoided delving into his own head injuries while professing a flawless bill of health.

“I never really thought about that,” Dungey said, regarding if one more hit to the head would’ve changed his career. “I think it’s more talk and rumors … I’m 100 percent healthy and I’m looking forward to this season.”

The last time Dungey was dressed and in a game, he was being helped off the field after taking a fourth-quarter hit to the head against Louisville on Nov. 7. It was the fourth noticeable hit to that area he had taken in the season on top of ones against Central Michigan, Virginia and Pittsburgh. He missed the last three games of the year as walk-on Zack Mahoney manned a Syracuse offense that sputtered to a 4-8 finish.

Tuesday morning marked the first day of spring practice for the Orange under its new coaching staff, and Dungey spoke inside the Ensley Athletic Center following his first action in an offense that will put him at less risk.

“With this new offense I’m not really taking the load as I did last year,” Dungey said. “I’m not going to be running nearly as much.”

 

 

Dungey was listed at 202 pounds last season but now weighs 216, he said. He’s trying to reach 225 by the start of the season and was visibly bigger in his upper body on Tuesday.

“I mean have you seen it, he’s huge!” wide receiver Steve Ishmael said. “I’m like, ‘Man, I’m jealous of you.’ He’s going to be able to take a lot more hits.”

As a freshman, Dungey threw for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns while running for 351 yards and five scores. First-year head coach Dino Babers has said Syracuse won’t huddle, and that its high-powered offense that has roots in Baylor’s up-tempo system will open eyes in the Carrier Dome.

Its maestro, the player with parts of only eight college games under his belt, didn’t ever think that one more hit to the head would’ve prevented him from directing that new-look offense. That, to him, was all talk and rumors.

And his coach, at least for the time being, expressed none of the hesitation or critique that clouded around him last year.

“I can’t predict the future,” Babers said. “I just know that he was out there today and looked good.”

Published on February 23, 2016 at 11:38 am

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman