Some of SU Football’s departures have started to find new landing spots. Ja’Had Carter is Buckeye bound and plans to wear the Scarlet and Gray at Ohio State next year. Meanwhile, Duce Chestnut committed to LSU a few days ago and is back to the purple #2 jersey he wore in high school.
So, SU has some open roster spots to fill and the Orange have the ball rolling with a transfer quarterback. Syracuse offered Ty Keyes yesterday. Keyes played at Southern Miss for two seasons and entered the portal about a week ago.
The dual-threat QB played in seven games over his two years with the Golden Eagles. The Taylorsville, Mississippi native started three games as a true freshman in 2021. Keyes connected on 16 of 27 passes for 157 yards and two interceptions against Troy in September two falls ago. The next week, the 6’2″, 213 pound gunslinger completed 11 passes on 24 attempts for 131 yards with two scores and a pick against Alabama. Keyes also ran a dozen times for 41 yards.
An injury wiped out the rest of the ESPN 300 recruit’s freshman season, so he redshirted. Keyes saw action in three games in the 2022 season. Southern Miss’s high-rated quarterback recruit since 2012 converted 10 of 17 passes for 281 yards with a trio of scores and two picks. On top of that, the 2019 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year scurried a baker’s dozen times for 60 yards and a touchdown.
So, Keyes is a guy with college experience under his belt and has played some top tier competition with relative success. It’s interesting that the former ESPN four-star recruit is picking Syracuse. When you think about it, SU has Garrett Shrader back for another year. Plus, the Orange have Carlos Del-Rio Wilson and Justin Lamson waiting in the wings. Now, CDRW didn’t exactly light it up when he was given opportunities but he was a high caliber prospect and Lamson was too.
Keyes has already set a date to come and visit Syracuse, per Mike McAllister. This would be a solid pickup for SU in the portal should he commit but there are other and more pertinent needs that must be tended too as well. We’ll keep you posted on this recruitment, a decision should come sooner rather than later with winter conditioning/spring ball on the horizon.
