Syracuse to start freshman quarterback

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- Syracuse has a new starter at quarterback -- redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib.

Head coach Doug Marrone, who succeeded Greg Robinson in December, said after practice on Monday that with only 10 spring practices left, picking a starter now was paramount. That will allow Nassib to take more snaps with the first team.

"I think it's extremely valuable," Marrone said. "My job is to get the best players on the field, the best 11. That's a position we wanted to get solidified right away. I will be able to make him a better player for when we come in in the fall."

Senior Cameron Dantley, who started most of the last season, was tabbed as the backup, while sophomore David Legree is No. 3 and former starter Andrew Robinson was moved to tight end.

Marrone said a good release, good mechanics, high accuracy, good arm strength and good decision-making all were factors in picking Nassib.

"Everything you want out of a quarterback, he's shown," Marrone said. "We feel he's the best player for us right now."

"I to keep working," said Nassib, who took all the snaps with the first-team offense on a bitterly cold, windy and snowy day. "I just going to keep doing what I that when fall comes I wins."

Andrew Robinson was the first quarterback Greg Robinson signed, but despite some promise his game began to suffer behind a porous front line. He endured 50 sacks in 2007, and after beginning last season with a subpar performance was replaced by Dantley and seemed to lose confidence with his diminished playing time.

Marrone said he feels Robinson can still be a contributor in his new position and on special teams.

"He's a strong kid and very athletic for that position," Marrone said. "He can move and, obviously, he knows the offense, so that transition won't be as difficult. We'll be able to move him around and really grow within that position. We felt it was best for our team to go ahead and put him in a position that will help us."

Robinson said he felt energized by the decision.

"When it comes down to it, when it to win first and have fun second," he said. "You just want to experience everything you can with the teammates you care about.

"It career," Robinson said. "I have a year left and I it everything I have to play as many special teams that I can and get on the field as a tight end."

Robinson isn't the only player who'll be missing from the backfield. Tailback Doug Hogue has been moved to outside linebacker.

In his four years as head coach, Greg Robinson liked to have the team practice outside in the elements instead of the controlled environment of the Carrier Dome. His successor is no different.

"I just think it's great. It really is," Marrone said of Monday's frigid conditions. "To be able to go through spring practice and be able to hit all of the elements that you're going to see through the season is good -- cold weather, hot weather, snow, rain. All those elements you see now, you're never sitting there saying when you play the first away game, well, if it rains, I wonder how the ball is going to be thrown or if it's wet or if it's cold.

"We have a unique situation here where we can still get all of those elements in the spring."

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