Injuries have hit the Syracuse defense hard all season and Saturday's loss to Notre Dame was no different as the Orange lost star defensive back Garrett Williams for the season with a torn ACL.

“I’m taking it pretty hard," Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax said. "That was my boy right there. Garrett is like my brother. Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve been locked in. Grinding together each and every day.”


What You Need To Know

  • On Monday, Dino Babers announced star DB Garrett Williams suffered a torn ACL

  • The Orange travel to Pittsburgh Saturday for an ACC showdown

  • Teammates said everybody is going to have to step it up in his absence

“Garrett is my roommate," Syracuse lineback Mikel Jones added. "We stay up late at night and talk about everything. Just the team. How to lead and what we can do to grow as players and grow the team. To see something like that happen, it hurt.”

Williams was putting together another fantastic season for the Orange, leading the secondary in tackles and has picked off a pair of pass, and while his absence will leave a void on the field, it'll still be felt on the sidelines, teammates said.

“He wears that ‘C’ on his chest," Wax said. "Big leader. He wears that with pride. He’s going to be here. Still been here every single day in meetings. Leading us. Letting us know things he sees on the sidelines. He’s going to be right here with us.”

Syracuse defensive back Garrett Williams (8) intercepts a pass intended for Virginia tight end Grant Misch (85) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Sept. 23 in Syracuse. (Adrian Kraus/AP Photo)

“That’s like adding another coach," Syracuse defensive back Ja'Had Carter said. "He’s one of those guys that’s very smart and intelligent.”

Filling that hole will be tough as the 6-2 Orange travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday looking to end a two-game losing streak. Something Carter says won’t fall on the shoulders of any one man in the locker room.

"That’s a big part to our defense so defensive line, linebackers, DBs," Carter said. "Everybody has to give a little bit more.”

As it stands now, redshirt junior Isaiah Johnson is the next man up. He has had 11 total tackles in the last two games. And the Orange said they know Johnson and the other young defensive backs will be ready for the challenge.

Syracuse defensive back Isaiah Johnson (20) tackles Clemson wide receiver Joseph Ngata (10) in the first half during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (Jacob Kupferman/AP)

“You can definitely see those guys are more attentive in practice," Jones said. "Just paying attention and going hard. Making plays against the scout any everything. Shoutout Quan Patterson making plays. Those dudes, they’re going to be ready.”

“That’s a part of the game," Syracuse defensive lineman Caleb Okechukwu added. "Next man up mentality. I have a lot of faith in Isaiah. We love Garrett though. We wish he could still be out there with us but Isaiah is a great athletes as well. If you watch the Clemson game, he made a lot of great plays so he’ll be ready.”