Wyoming Valley West graduate Chris Bleich has landed the starting spot at left guard at Syracuse University going into the Orange opener at Ohio University Saturday night.
Bleich is a redshirt sophomore after transferring from the University of Florida.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder earned all-state recognition in each of his final two high school seasons.
Bleich was granted a redshirt season for 2018 when he made four appearances for Florida, including playing the season opener and in the Peach Bowl against Michigan.
The Gators went 11-2 and finished No. 6 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll with Bleich as the starting right guard in eight games and seeing action in another. He blocked for an offense that averaged 33.2 points and 430.5 yards per game.
Bleich’s first college start came in an August, 2019 game against the University of Miami.
Following the move to Syracuse, Bleich sat out the 2020 season under National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules.
