Syracuse safety Andre Cisco opts out to enter 2021 NFL Draft

Cisco began the campaign as the FBS active leader in interceptions with 12 and added one more pick during his team's season-opening loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels. As noted by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), though, the preseason First-Team All-American suffered a lower-body injury in a collision with a teammate and subsequently missed Syracuse's last two contests before announcing his decision.

Cisco leaves the Orange a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. Per the school's website, he was the first freshman to lead the country in interceptions (tied with Boston College’s Hamp Cheevers with seven picks) since 1998 and the first true freshman to achieve that feat since 1951. 

In a mock draft updated on Oct. 7, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports projected Cisco could be a top-11 pick. Walter Football did the same, and Charlie Campbell of that site added:

"Cisco is a true ballhawk in pass coverage, and that is the first thing that stands out when watching him. Aside from his interceptions, Cisco is always going for the strip on tackles and when breaking up passes. Cisco's ball awareness is terrific, and he is very cognizant to punch the ball while making tackles. Cisco is superb in zone coverage in the middle of the field. He has very good instincts and is fast to read offenses to get in position to make plays on the ball. With good vision, Cisco has nice route recognition, anticipation, and reads the eyes of quarterbacks. Cisco closes quickly and is tremendous at jumping routes to break up passes.

"While Cisco is not the biggest of safeties, he is better than one would expect in the ground game. He flies downhill and doesn't show fear to dish out a hard hit or crash into the tackle box. Cisco has quality tackling technique with an advanced ability to get low to take the legs out of the ball-carrier."