Doug Hogue, chin bandage and all, couldn’t stop laughing.

Asked about his second career collegiate run – a 9-yard gain up the middle for a first down with four minutes left in a game already decided by Illinois, Hogue remembered it well.

‘It was funny because, I don’t know, I was running the ball, I wasn’t, like, nervous, I was like, ‘Oh, I broke one,” Hogue said, with a burst of laughter.

‘I was surprised. First time playing Division I football, and it was just surprising.’

So goes the life of a Syracuse football freshman these days – there’s plenty of firsts to go around. Hogue saw his first action (and suffered his first game injury, a nicked chin) in Saturday’s blowout. Eight other true freshmen played, including center Jim McKenzie and defensive back Mike Holmes, who both started.

Already, Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson has played more than double the amount of true freshmen than last season.

‘There have been a number of our young players who can go in there on special teams, and they have made very good contributions because they are ready to play,’ Robinson said Tuesday. ‘Each week there has been a sprinkling more. I’m not into trying to pull the plug on different players. I’m finding people who can do some things better than others and are now more comfortable in doing that.’

But the freshmen have been contributing more than on special teams. Wide receiver Da’Mon Merkerson made his debut with two catches for 22 yards against Illinois. Holmes had six tackles in his first career start and looked fully competent in the secondary as a part of the nickel package. Defensive tackle Bud Tribbey has worked his way into the regular rotation on the line.

Then there’s Max Suter, who has returned 14 kicks for 342 yards, good enough for 54th best in the nation. Punter Rob Long is tied for 20th in the nation with a 44-yard punting average.

Hogue saw the prospects of this class long ago.

‘Before I even came to Syracuse, I was looking at my fellow freshmen teammates, and I was looking at their highlight tapes,’ Hogue said. ‘I realized that we really do have a good freshman class, and I think everybody’s talented on our freshman team.’

Against Illinois, seven of SU’s 24 starters (after counting kicker and punter) were Robinson recruits: quarterback Andrew Robinson, wide receivers Mike Williams and Taj Smith, center McKenzie, offensive tackle Larry Norton, cornerback Holmes and Long, the punter. The senior and junior classes were recruited by former head coach Paul Pasqualoni’s staff.

Robinson said the reason he’s played more freshmen than last season is because of the nature of the two recruiting classes. Last season, only Andrew Robinson, tailback Delone Carter, Williams and Donte Davis saw time.

‘I think it’s a different style of recruiting class,’ Greg Robinson said. ‘Last year, our first recruiting class, it was paramount that we go out and find offensive linemen – I think we signed seven offensive linemen. There is no way offensive linemen were going to play as true freshmen.’

Four of those redshirt freshmen offensive linemen are on the second team, which Robinson has already used in the past two games.

Holmes said it was about the third week of training camp in August when he noticed the potential for his freshman class. He, along with Merkerson, are two players Robinson has singled out in praise repeatedly.

‘Getting the ball is an extra, extra bonus,’ Merkerson said. ‘Getting in the game was the first bonus, and I was happy to be playing. Then, catching the pass, I was happy. To get another one, though, it was lovely.’

As for Hogue, he expects to see the field more often, now that he’s gotten a taste. A plantar fasciitis foot injury held him back during training camp, but that’s healed now. Hogue knows he still needs to gain more weight and learn more of the offensive schemes.

He’ll be doing that on the fly.

‘I wasn’t exactly sure I was going to get into the game against Illinois, but the thing about it is, I was getting really into practice (last week), practicing with the first team and stuff like that,’ Hogue said. ‘I think by them letting me carry the ball, they’re getting comfortable with me.’

Can’t stop ’em

Robinson was asked numerous times about how Syracuse plans to stop the powerful Louisville offense, which is averaging a Division I-best 617 yards per game of total offense.

First, he said it was ‘a challenge.’ Then, a few questions later, he went a step further.

‘I’m going to tell you this: They are very good,’ Robinson said. ‘You’re not going to stop Louisville’s offense. If they are going to be stopped, they are going to be stopped by themselves.’

Syracuse, of course, has had its own problems on defense. It ranks 101st in the nation, surrendering 453.3 yards per game. The Cardinals’ senior quarterback and Heisman candidate Brian Brohm is averaging 387 yards per game himself.

‘(Brohm) really is the one who directs the show,’ Robinson said. ‘I always say there are certain quarterbacks who make others look better, and that’s what Brian does. He’s so accurate in the passing game that those receivers don’t have to break stride in catching the football.’

Injury update

Robinson announced on Sunday that sophomore wide receiver Donte Davis had surgery to repair a broken thumb. Davis stood on the sidelines Saturday with his No. 7 jersey on and his left arm in a sling.

‘(It) was freaky because it was just a ball thrown to him, and he went all week taping it up and kind of going,’ Robinson said. ‘Then, last Saturday in Iowa, he said something to the trainers, and so we got back Monday, took an X-ray, and they found he had a broken bone in his thumb, and he had to have it reattached. He’s going to miss some time.’

The head coach did not have a clear update Sunday on starting strong safety A.J. Brown’s status. Brown did not play the entire second half after leaving with an injury. Junior Bruce Williams replaced him.

Freshman tight end Darnell Pratt, from nearby Nottingham High School, had his cast removed from his sprained thumb and returned to practice on Tuesday for the first time since early training camp.

Published on September 18, 2007 at 12:00 pm