Leon Lowery Continues To Improve

Last season was a year for Leon Lowery to step onto the scene.

The linebacker contributed 1.5 sacks and had a big highlight early in the season. The then-redshirt freshman late in the first half against Virginia in Week 4 bent the edge and sacked then-UVA quarterback Brennan Armstrong.

The leap Lowery made from 2022 to 2023 was huge. Through six games, the redshirt sophomore has 3.5 sacks. The improvement did not just come from the opportunity to play on any given Saturday, but it came from Lowery’s focus on the practice field.

“He changed his body from spring to the summer,” Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said. “From the minute he came on the field during August, you could see that he was out to get something. He’s been determined ever since he hasn’t been doing it with [his mouth], but he’s been doing it [physically]. And when you do it the quiet way, not the loud way, normally everyone seems to see and hear what you’re doing.”

“[I’ve been] putting in more work in the weight room and on and off the field,” Leon Lowery said. “[I’ve been working on] the little things like pass rush. I reread my keys and everything comes into play. We’re getting more film work with the coaches and all that stuff that I feel like changed over from last year.”

Lowery picked up a sack last week against UNC but in a new number. The linebacker made the switch from wearing 16 to wearing nine. Playing with a single digit is a reward for hard work in the SU program.

“Coach Babers was like ‘Whoa, I know that you’re starting and all but you still need to show more on the field,’” Lowery said. “I took that as motivation for me to get my single digit. Not everybody gets a single digit here so it felt good to get one.”

Lowery goes up against a Florida State offense this weekend that has the best scoring offense in the ACC. Kickoff between the Orange and the Seminoles is set for noon in Tallahassee.