Miami Football: 3 takeaways from Week 8 win over Syracuse

2. Eric Dungey has NFL-caliber grit

If you doubted Eric Dungey you don’t anymore. Dungey is the real deal at quarterback for the Syracuse Orange. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound passer struggled early throwing four interceptions in the first half but he hung in there taking hits, carrying the football, and throwing darts. Dungey is the entire Syracuse offense and it showed.

When Miami focused on shutting down the passing game, he turned to the running game and power read which Miami couldn’t solve once again. Dungey threw for only 137 yards but he ran for 101 yards at 5.3 yards per carry against the Miami Hurricanes defense which is ranked 24th in the nation per the S&P+ rankings from Bill C.

Dungey showed off his athleticism when he carried the football. Dungey hurdled Miami defenders, even ones standing upright and threw a Seth Rollins like high knee into the face of a Miami defender. Dungey over came what looked like a hamstring injury and injured ankle to tough out a near back to back upset over top 10 teams. Syracuse came up just short after a Travis Homer touchdown run and Miami’s eight-point lead to end the football game.

In Bruce Arians’ book The Quarterback Whisperer, he talks about quarterbacks needing to have grit and Dungey showed that he has the grit and toughness needed to be an NFL quarterback.