Just one month from now, every Syracuse student will be back on the hill. Welcome week will be over; attention will start to turn from creating dorm setups and syllabus week to the Orange’s massive week 1 game against Tennessee in the Aflac Kickoff Game. However, the 2025 team looks very different from last year’s Holiday Bowl champions. Syracuse made a lot of roster moves over this winter and spring. Here is a refresher on Syracuse football’s offseason moves:
Transfer Portal
Following their massive home win against Miami to close out the regular season, the transfer portal kicked into high gear around college football. The Orange lost three star transfers such as safety Jayden Brown, defensive lineman Xavier Miles, tackle Enrique Cruz, and guard Kalan Ellis. All of these players were depth pieces in 2024 but would’ve competed for starting spots during camp. While they were tough losses, Syracuse quickly worked to replace these losses. They brought in four star transfer cornerback Chris Peal, a starter at Georgia, to bolster the defensive back room. They retooled the offensive line with three star transfers such as TJ Ferguson from Florida State and Zach Rice from North Carolina. Then, anticipating that Kyle McCord would not get a waiver from the NCAA for an additional year of college football, Syracuse brought in quarterback Rickie Collins Jr. from LSU. Collins was the backup to potential first round draft pick Garrett Nussmeier, but displayed an encoring dual threat ability in his appearances. Some analysts have compared Collins to McCord, relating their ability to confuse defenses with their feet but also having a strong arm to push the football down the field. Head Coach Fran Brown must’ve been pleased with his portal activity: A strong new core in the trenches to aid in the run game and as pass protectors, some new corners and safeties to defend against the weekly top receivers that the Orange will face in the ACC, and a dynamic quarterback to learn and grow with the reloading roster.
NFL Draft
Syracuse lost many of their key players from the 2024 season to the draft, but their landing spots are encouraging for a recruiting world where high school talent always looks towards NFL placement as a factor in their commitment decision. Tight end Oronde Gadsden II was a fifth round selection by the LA Chargers, who will look to be a starter and immediate impact player in a Jim Harbaugh scheme which favors tight ends. Kyle McCord (Eagles), running back Lequint Allen Jr. (Jaguars), and defensive end Fadil Diggs (Saints) all heard their names called on draft weekend and will play depth roles in their rookie season. Additionally, eight other former Orangemen are heading to the NFL this summer through either an undrafted free agent contract or a camp invite: Defensive back Clarence Lewis (Titans), linebacker Justin Barron and defensive back Alijah Clark (Cowboys), wide receiver Jackson Meeks (Lions), offensive lineman Savion Washington and linebacker Marlowe Wax (Chargers), tight end Max Mang (Colts), and long snapper Tom Callahan (Raiders) will all fight for roster spots during preseason games later this summer. This was an amazing turnout; 12 members of the 2024 team are heading pro.
Spring Transfer Portal
I thought the transfer portal happened in the winter? Yes, myself and almost every college coach thought so as well. During spring practices, there was a large amount of player movement in the portal as coaches began to put together their depth charts ahead of the 2025 season. Tennessee star transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava heading to UCLA in the middle of the spring caught national headlines and created a ripple effect of players across the country bolting for better opportunities. Syracuse ended up losing Maraad Watson, one of their standout freshmen from 2024 who made the NCAA’s All-Freshman First Team, to Texas. Offensively, top wide receiver Trebor Pena left for Penn State in the spring and reportedly wanted a $2 million NIL compensation to stay with the Orange. These were undoubtedly two massive blows to the roster; some analysts said their best player on each side of the ball left in this “Spring portal”. Syracuse made the best out of this situation by bringing in former Texas speedster wide receiver Johntay Cook II, a day 1 starter who can be both a downfield threat and a security blanket in short passes who can self-create separation. Just before their April spring game, Syracuse pulled in former Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli to battle with Collins for the #1 job over the summer. Angeli, a redshirt junior, was the backup to Riley Leonard last season and led a drive during the College Football Playoff while Leonard dealt with an injury. Angeli, if he wins the job, is ranked as the 9th or 10th best quarterback in the ACC.
Syracuse’s 2025 season will be unpredictable: Multiple personnel changes and a tough schedule will require fast growth from this younger and retooled roster. However, the Orange retained their core coaches and assistants under Head Coach Fran Brown. 37 days until kickoff in Atlanta!
