In his final media availability of the spring, Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer explained Ryan Norton’s conspicuous absence from the Orange’s Spring Game on Saturday.

The kicker, who missed a game due to suspension during the regular season, was suspended again due to a violation of team rules.

“He’s done a nice job taking ownership,” Shafer said on the Atlantic Coast Conference coaches’ teleconference Wednesday. “It’s between Ryan and I.”

Norton was suspended for SU’s win against Wake Forest in early November after being charged with resisting arrest and underage drinking. Punter Riley Dixon took over kicking duties for that game. Norton returned for Syracuse the following week for a win against Maryland and played the remainder of the season.

Norton began last season as Syracuse’s kickoff specialist, but took over full-time kicking duties when Ross Krautman suffered a season-ending injury in a loss to Northwestern in September.

Norton was successful on 10-of-15 field-goal tries and his only missed extra point came when ACC Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald blocked Norton’s kick during the Orange’s loss to Pittsburgh in the penultimate week of the regular season.

With Krautman back for a fifth season, he and Norton are expected to compete for the starting kicker job, and rising senior walk-on Alex Hodgkinson kicked both of SU’s field goals in its Spring Game.

Shafer said he expects Norton to return for the start of summer camp.

“He’ll be back with us shortly,” Shafer said, “and we look forward to that.”

Published on April 23, 2014 at 12:29 pm

Contact David: dbwilson@syr.edu | @DBWilson2