Marquis Spruill admitted he prefers playing middle linebacker. He spent just one season at outside linebacker, his freshman year at Syracuse in 2010, in his entire football career.

Spruill spent last season back in the middle, a position he said is “home” to him on the field.

But Spruill will start the season back on the outside behind Dan Vaughan at strong-side linebacker on the preseason depth chart despite earning an All-Big East second-team selection for his play last season.

“I have no problems with it,” Spruill said. “It’s just another chance for me to fight for my spot and prove my worth.”

Last season, Spruill played in all 12 games and started 11, patrolling the middle and finishing fourth on the team with 62 tackles. He also made 8.5 tackles for loss and recorded three sacks. Spruill then missed spring practice due to a lower-body injury that required surgery.

In his absence, senior Siriki Diabate impressed the coaching staff and will open camp at the top of the depth chart at middle linebacker. Diabate played in 11 games last season and earned two starts. He finished with 17 tackles and one sack.

SU head coach Doug Marrone said Saturday that Spruill will not be starting camp at middle linebacker.

The junior said he spoke with the coaches and they decided to move him back to outside linebacker. Spruill started all 13 games at the position as a freshman, posting 51 tackles – nine for loss – and two sacks.

Heading into camp, SU defensive coordinator Scott Shafer said he’s excited about the linebackers. With Spruill, Vaughan and Diabate battling for starting time along with weak-side linebackers Dyshawn Davis and Cameron Lynch, the position has a handful of possibilities for the starting lineup when the season begins.

“It’s a matter of finding a way to play our best three linebackers regardless of what position they end up at,” Shafer said. “They have to be able to be the best runners and hitters on the field that know the defensive scheme and so it’s really let the competition begin.”

And Spruill will be competing to get back on the field as a starter on the outside just as he did two years ago.

“I played outside my first year here and I loved it, I did great,” Spruill said. “ … Now, I’m back at outside and it’s really nothing different from my freshman year.”

Sean Hickey taking Pugh’s place

Marrone said at Big East media day Tuesday that he thought Sean Hickey would replace the injured Justin Pugh as the starting left tackle at the start of the season.

On Saturday, the head coach went a step further.

“Sean Hickey will go out there and start at left tackle and we feel very comfortable with him being out there, especially with how hard he’s worked and the numbers he’s put up,” Marrone said.

Marrone said Pugh, who will miss training camp and the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery during the offseason, is among the best left tackles in the region. He was named All-Big East first team in 2011.

Though it will be tough for the Orange without Pugh on the line, Marrone also expressed excitement for Hickey. The junior from Murraysville, Pa., did not play in any games his first two seasons at Syracuse as he suffered numerous injuries that kept him off the field.

He was an all-state selection his junior and senior seasons at Franklin Regional High School, where he set a record for pancake blocks.

After two seasons, Hickey has a chance to finally step on the field for the Orange.

“We recruited a football player that from a standpoint of numbers coming in, had the better numbers than Justin but had been hurt, had been injured,” Marrone said of Hickey. “And that player has suffered quite a bit not to be able to participate, not to be able to be part of the team and there have been times where he has been able to participate that he’s been very exciting for us to watch and has been developing.”

Published on August 3, 2012 at 5:50 pm

Contact Ryne: rjgery@syr.edu