Senior nose tackle Wayne Williams is no longer part of the Syracuse football team, SU Athletics spokeswoman Sue Edson confirmed Tuesday afternoon. She added that Williams has been granted his release to pursue transfer options.

Williams was placed behind redshirt freshman Kayton Samuels at the nose tackle position on the post-spring practice depth chart and played only five games due to injury  in 2014 after transferring from ASA (New York) College. Last season, he totaled nine tackles, four of which came of the unassisted variety, and recovered one fumble.

The senior’s departure leaves SU even thinner on a line that has taken several hits in the recent past. Not only did Eric Crume, Micah Robinson and Robert Welsh all graduate from the defensive line, but Isaiah Johnson, Marcus Coleman and Ryan Sloan are no longer part of the team because of injury or transfer.

Williams battled weight issues when he came to Syracuse and looked to turn those around in 2014, but his potential never came to fruition despite losing a significant amount of weight. SU now only returns John Raymon as a defensive tackle with game experience. Head coach Scott Shafer has praised the preseason play of redshirt freshmen Samuels and Chris Slayton, and may need contributions out of incoming freshmen defensive tackles Steven Clark, Tyler Cross and Anthony Giudice as well.