Syracuse safety Rodney Williams has been granted a medical redshirt, Stephen Bailey of The Post-Standard reported Wednesday.

Bailey’s report was confirmed by Sue Edson of SU Athletics, and is good news for a team in need of secondary depth. Williams played in two games last season before being ruled out with a lower-body injury, which he eventually had surgery for. He will be a redshirt freshman for the 2015 season and have four more years of eligibility.

Williams impressed at safety during Syracuse’s preseason intra-squad scrimmage at Fort Drum last August, and recorded two tackles while recovering a fumble in a 40-3 win over Central Michigan on Sept. 13.

Syracuse released its post-spring practice depth chart on Wednesday, and listed Williams as a second-string free safety behind sophomore Chauncey Scissum.