Syracuse coach Dino Babers says he’s still awaiting the results of more tests on injured quarterback Eric Dungey.
The sophomore star was hit in the head and shoulder area during the first quarter of a 54-0 loss to then-No. 3 Clemson on Nov. 5 and missed Saturday’s home loss to North Carolina State. He had been listed as questionable for the game on the team’s injury report.
“They’re going through secondary tests,” Babers said Monday. “They’re getting a second opinion on stuff, so we’ve got to wait. They’ll tell us.”
If Dungey is cleared to rejoin the team, Babers said it would be a coach’s decision whether he would play.
Dungey was at practice last week but was not cleared to participate by the team’s medical staff. He attended Saturday’s game and tossed a football on the sidelines beforehand.
Dungey missed four games in 2015 and suffered at least one concussion from a vicious hit early in the season against Central Michigan. He also was hit hard in games against Pitt and Louisville later in the season and missed the final three games of the year.
Babers declined to speculate on Dungey’s future.
“Eric is a special individual. He’s earned a right for us to not talk about his business publicly,” Babers said. “I know that everybody in the Syracuse community wants nothing but the best for that young man. So let’s let the doctors figure it out, and then whatever they tell us to do, we’ll do.”
Dungey, third in the ACC and 16th nationally in passing yards (297.7 yards per game) and total offense (330.2), was replaced by junior Zack Mahoney. The former walk-on finished 13 of 24 for 190 yards, one touchdown and an interception against the Wolfpack.
“I thought Zack played extremely well,” Babers said. “Anytime you lose a player as valuable as Eric, it’s not that the backup has to play as good. It would be very rare. I thought Zack played a good game. I thought he gave us a chance to win.”
Syracuse (4-6, 2-4 ACC) has lost two straight since upsetting then-No. 17 Virginia Tech at home and beating Boston College on the road. The Orange host No. 17 Florida State (7-3, 4-3) on Saturday, the last home game for the Syracuse seniors, and finish the season at Pitt on Nov. 26.
___
More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
___
Follow Kekis at: www.twitter.com/Greek1947
Please read our comment policy before commenting.