Syracuse still planning to use redshirt on freshman QB

South Bend, Ind. — Fran Brown confirmed following Saturday’s 70-7 loss at No. 9 Notre Dame that he still plans to use a redshirt on freshman quarterback Luke Carney, making it unlikely he will play in next week’s season-finale against Boston College.

“They won’t change,” Brown said when asked about plans to redshirt Carney.

Brown said Monday that Syracuse would spend the week deciding whether Carney would play his final game against No. 9 Notre Dame or next week against Boston College (1-10, 1-6 ACC).

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Carney was listed as Syracuse’s backup against Notre Dame, setting the stage for him to play.

After Syracuse went down 21-0 before Notre Dame’s offense touched the field, Carney was inserted into the game.

Carney played a total of three series for Syracuse, attempting just four passes as Joe Filardi returned to the game after two separate benchings. As it stands, Carney will finish his freshman season with just seven pass attempts, completing five of them for 22 yards.

After Carney saw limited action in the Orange’s Oct. 18 loss to Pittsburgh, he said he was willing to forego his redshirt this season if Syracuse needed it. Brown later said that Carney’s redshirt status would be decided by Syracuse’s second-year head coach.

More than one month later, that has changed.

Carney went from being buried on the depth chart during spring practice to leaving fall camp as Syracuse’s third-string quarterback.

However, he has yet to start a game as Syracuse turned to Filardi when LSU transfer Rickie Collins was benched against North Carolina.

Instead of giving Carney a chance the following week, Collins returned as Syracuse’s starter at No. 13 Miami.

Now, the four-time Texas state champion is in line to watch either Collins or the walk-on start in Syracuse’s season finale.