FB | Jones to return for senior year; Williams re-enrolls

Arthur Jones, Syracuse's standout defensive tackle, said he will return to school for his senior season, and delay a chance to go to the National Football League.?

Jones, reached by phone on Dec. 23, told The Daily Orange he made his decision after meeting with new SU head coach Doug Marrone four or five times. ?

"I have faith in this new coach," Jones said.?

Jones said he spoke with numerous agents and scouts who told him he could be a second-round pick in this year's NFL draft. That, he said, can wait.

?"The NFL isn't going anywhere," Jones said. "This gives me a chance to get my degree."?

Jones, the only Syracuse player chosen first-team all-Big East, had 60 tackles and 13 for a loss in 2008, a year after recording 17.5 tackles for a loss as a sophomore. He is sixth on Syracuse's all-time tackles for a loss leaders, 19 behind Dwight Freeney's school record of 50.5. ?

But Jones said his decision was made with Syracuse in mind. He said he has spoken with his teammates and the general consensus is positive after the hiring of Marrone and the staff he continues to bring in.?

"He seems like he's very confident that he'll get it turned in the right direction," Jones said. He also said he noticed that Marrone made it a priority to lock his talent defensive tackle up.

Jones hails from Endicott, N.Y. His younger brother, Chandler, is a freshman defensive end, and the two brothers live together.?

"I just signed my first recruit," Marrone said in a statement. "My goal when I arrived was to make sure the juniors wanted to be part of this plan to win. My plan is not to rebuild. My plan is to win. The only way we will win is to reach the players here on campus. We are not going to win this coming season with the first recruiting class, we are going to do that with the players who are here in this program."?

Jones said he was already "sick" of the process leading up to the NFL draft and that he wanted to "finish what he started" at Syracuse.

?"I know," Jones said, "in my heart, I love Syracuse to death." ? Williams Re-Enrolls

Mike Williams is re-enrolled at Syracuse, the Syracuse athletics department confirmed Monday. The Orange's standout wide receiver was suspended by the university in July after allegations of academic cheating.

Williams missed the entire 2008 football season, and attended Springfield (Mass.) Technical Community College instead. At the school, he earned high enough grades to return to SU. Rather than transfer to a Division I-AA school as a bridge toward the NFL Draft - as many anticipated - Williams is back at Syracuse to finish his degree.

Two years ago as a sophomore, Williams was arguably Syracuse's best player. The wideout caught 10 touchdowns and tied a single-season school record with 60 receptions. In both 2006 and 2007, Williams led Syracuse in receiving yards with 461 and 837, respectively. His 837 yards ranked sixth-best among Big East receivers and earned the 6-foot-2 wideout a spot on the All-Big East second team. He has currently caught a touchdown pass in nine consecutive games, a Syracuse record.

Without Williams and graduated starting wide receiver Taj Smith, Syracuse's passing game sputtered in 2008. Smith participated in the Green Bay Packers' training camp, was cut, and is now on the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad. Without the tandem, Syracuse (3-9) saw its passing game plunge to 113th of 119 schools in Division I from No. 55 in 2007.

A jumble of receivers filled the vacant spots with no receiver on the Orange's roster recording at least 30 catches this past season. Lavar Lobdell began the season as the team's No. 1 receiver, but never developed into a threat with only 13 receptions for 165 yards and no touchdowns. Donte Davis finished with a team-high 29 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner at Notre Dame in SU's 24-23 upset win.

The 2008 season counts as a redshirt season for Williams since he played as a true freshman and as a sophomore. He'll be a junior for 2009. It was a tumultuous summer and fall of uncertainty for Williams, but it appears he will be back on the field in Doug Marrone's first year as SU's head coach.

Williams will almost certainly be a key cog in new coordinator Rob Spence's offense. In Spence's three full seasons as Clemson's offensive coordinator, the Tigers finished in the top four of the 12-team Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing, passing and total offense, despite fielding a different starting quarterback each year. In 2007, Spence's last full season with Clemson, wide receiver Aaron Kelly had 1,081 yards on 88 catches with 11 touchdowns.

magelb@syr.edu thdunne@syr.edu