David Clement signs with Syracuse: ‘I can’t wait to get out there’

David Clement
Courtesy: David Clement

Syracuse’s newest tight end, David Clement, had been waiting for this day for nearly nine months.

Clement, who played at Albany (NY) Christian Brothers Academy, committed to the Orange in March, one of Syracuse’s earliest commits in the 2023 class. So when it finally signed his National Letter of Intent on the first day of the Early Signing Period on Wednesday, it was the culmination of months of waiting.

“I’m glad it became official,” Clement said in this week’s The Juice on the Cuse Podcast, presented by SNY.tv. “I can’t wait to get out there and do everything I can do keep this program winning.”

Clement is referring to Syracuse’s 7-5 season, its first winning season since 2018. The Orange will face Minnesota net week in the Pinstripe Bowl.

One of the reasons for Syracuse’s success was tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who was named an First-Team All-ACC Selection after hauling in 891 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 54 catches.

It’s the type of success that Clement believes he can emulate.

“I think I can see myself succeeding at a high level like he did,” Clement said. “I like to think of myself as well-rounded tight end who can block, catch, catch over somebody, catch in traffic, will block someone until they hit the turf.”

If he does, he’ll do it in front of a large contingent of family and friends, who plan on making the short drive from Albany to the JMA Wireless Dome.

» Related: Here’s everything that happened on Syracuse’s 2022 Early Signing Day

“My family was happy that I decided to go to Syracuse because they can get to every game,” Clement said. “It really helped me with my decision going there.”

As for what Clement is most excited about this fall?

“Playing in front of the crowd,” he said. “It gets really loud. At some points you can’t talk to the person next to you because it’s so deafening.”

You can listen to our whole conversation by following “The Juice on the Cuse Podcast,” a Syracuse Orange podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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About Wes Cheng 2907 Articles
Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), for SportsNet New York (SNY) as a news desk writer covering all of New York professional sports, and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with a degree in journalism. Contact him at wes[at]sujuiceonline.com.