Senior tight end Joe Donnelly injured his shoulder at practice Sunday and will be out for multiple weeks, head coach Paul Pasqualoni said yesterday.

Donnelly platooned with fellow senior Lenny Cusumano last season and played alongside him in SU’s two tight-end sets. The better pass-catcher of the pair, Donnelly caught 12 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.

Cusumano, listed ahead of Donnelly on the depth chart, will receive more playing time during Donnelly’s absence. He caught four passes for 36 yards last season.

Moving to the backup spot will be sophomore Joe Kowalewski, who beat out redshirt freshman Brandon Darlington and sophomore Alex Shor. He caught one pass for 14 yards last season.

‘Joe Kowalewski probably came out of spring practice with the lead,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘Alex and Brandon are doing an excellent job. These are big, strong guys.’

Cusumano, the best blocking tight end SU has even when Donnelly is healthy, needs to improve his receiving. Last season, he dropped a sure touchdown in the opener at Brigham Young.

‘He’s become more well-rounded,’ Donnelly said Friday. ‘He picked things from me pass catching, and I picked up things from him blocking.’

It’s not yet known exactly when Donnelly, who bench presses more than 500 pounds, will return.

‘It’ll be a few weeks,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t really say when he’ll be back.’

Williams leaves

Sophomore wide receiver and punt returner Rashard Williams left the team this weekend for family reasons, Pasqualoni said.

Williams returned six punts last year, totalling 46 yards.

The 5-foot-6 Williams, who teammates affectionately call Shorty, was feeling homesick, Pasqualoni said.

‘He felt like he’s been a long way away from his family,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘He’s one of those kids who’s very important to his family.’

Williams, who’s mouth shines with three gold teeth his mother gave him when he was 15, is from Miami.

Brooks moves

Cory Brooks has been moved from linebacker to fullback, Pasqualoni said.

Brooks, a redshirt sophomore, played in 10 of 12 games last year.

‘Cory this year will have mostly a special teams role,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘He’ll be used in short yardage and goal line situations.’

Pasqualoni said he’s happy with SU’s other fullbacks and made the switch based on the Orangemen’s young depth at linebacker with freshmen Jerry Mackey and Jameel McClain.

Starting fullback Thump Belton, a senior captain, bruised his elbow during the preseason but didn’t miss any practice. He said yesterday his elbow is fine.

Riddle returns

After taking classes at Onondaga Community College throughout training camp, Jamel Riddle is now practicing and fully enrolled at Syracuse.

‘He’s a full-time college student,’ Pasqualoni said.

Riddle led Syracuse in punt returns last season, averaging 13.7 yards.

This and that

Pasqualoni announced that freshman wide receiver Landel Bembo will redshirt this season. Bembo missed the first week of practice because he was academically ineligible, but he’s since been practicing and is admitted to Syracuse. … Pasqualoni said Syracuse is still in ‘preseason mode’ and has not begun game-planning for its Sept. 6 opener at North Carolina. … Other than the incumbent Riddle, Pasqualoni said Johnnie Morant, Diamond Ferri, Steve Gregory and Marcus Clayton are candidates for returning punts. He seemed particularly excited about Clayton, SU’s fastest true freshman.

Published on August 25, 2003 at 12:00 pm