Syracuse football’s offense this season is already loaded with talent. Whether it’s 3,000-yard passer Kyle McCord, All-ACC tight end Oronde Gadsden II, or even the elusive LeQuint Allen, there will be no shortage of electricity when Fran Brown’s starting 11 hits the field. For a team with so much buzz, there’s going to be a player or two who exceed expectations and make the team that much better. For 2024, look no further than the true freshman running back Yasin Willis.
Willis joins the Orange this season after playing high school football in Montvale, New Jersey, where he was the tenth-ranked prospect in the state. The three-star recruit had offers from Pitt (where he was originally committed), Rutgers, Boston College, and Kentucky before deciding to pick Syracuse, which was most likely impacted by Fran Brown’s influence in the region. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound back finished his high school career with over 1,000 yards each season, including 17 touchdowns in his junior year.
But why is he going to shine at Syracuse this season? Well, SU’s new offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon joins the team aiming to adopt a pro-style offense after spending over a decade in the NFL as a running backs coach. Last season with the New York Giants, Nixon worked hand-in-hand with superstar running back Saquon Barkley and allowed him to shine with over 950 yards on the ground. Willis perfectly fits the mold for a Barkley-type in a Nixon-led offense, so the mix of LeQuint Allen’s elusiveness and Yasin Willis’ power should lead to plenty of opportunities for the true freshman.
Willis has already proven his abilities in this year’s spring game. In that contest, the freshman ran for 91 yards on 11 carries including a touchdown. Willis has a major opportunity this season to sit behind a mentor in LeQuint Allen and make some plays when he gets the chance. Keep an eye out for Willis, as there’s a good chance you will hear his name scoring touchdowns for seasons and seasons to come.
