The college football season begins on August 23, and the Syracuse Orange kick off their campaign in Week 1 on August 30 against the Tennessee Volunteers. They have work to do if they will challenge for the championship this season. Last season, the team chalked up seven wins and 13 losses in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and 14-19 overall. In 2023-24, they’d fared a little better, posting 11 conference wins and nine losses, and an overall 20-12.
That doesn’t mean players haven’t got what it takes to make it big. Several NFL stars have come from Syracuse University, including Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams, his wide receiver teammate Trishton Jackson, and Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron. Below is a look at Orange defensive players to follow this season.
Duce Chestnut
Safety Duce Chestnut may have departed briefly from the Orange, but he found his way back, and they rightly welcomed him onto the side again. In his sophomore campaign, Chestnut allowed a mere four touchdowns on 356 snaps and only one penalty, and last season, the Camden-born defensive player posted 62 tackles, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble. The safety is versatile and has paramount playmaking ability and an instinct for finding the end zone.
Experts expect Chestnut to lead a defensive backer core that blends younger players with older, more experienced ones. They believe this could be his breakout season, one on a par with his breakout freshman season.
Devin Grant
Devin Grant is a late bloomer in college football, having started in the Covid-altered 2020 season. Out of high school as a three-star recruit, he earned playing time from the get-go but never broke into the starting lineup as a major contributor. Last season, he played for Incarnate Word and started 13 out of 14 games: the side made the national quarter finals.
2025 could be his breakout season, however. In the 2024 season, his first full season of playing time in college, he posted 51 total tackles and 8.5 sacks. This defensive lineman’s size and style fit those of an outside linebacker or pass-rushing defensive end.
Grant enters 2025 with 144 tackles, six interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 9.5 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, two sacks, and two blocked kicks. In 2025 he is expected to take rotational snaps as a pass rusher. He’s also scored three touchdowns, so if you’re considering an NFL point spread in the future and Grant is on the team, you may wish to weigh this stat up when choosing how to wager.
Dion “Tank” Wilson
The 6 ft 5” -er defensive lineman from Perris, California, returns to the team this season after injury kept him from exerting the impact Syracuse had hoped for the previous one. Still, that time was enough for him to post 13 tackles in five games since he joined Syracuse in January 2024.
Previous teams Wilson has played for include the Arizona Wildcats and the New Mexico State Aggies. Across the teams, he has recorded 75 tackles, 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in 39 games.
“Tank” has an important role to fulfil as he anchors the defensive line’s interior. Many new players will be on the defense this season, and his size and experience will be crucial for run defense. If he holds up well on the inside against opposing teams, Syracuse’s run defense will become much stronger.
Zyian Moultrie-Goddard
Zyian Moultrie-Goddard is a tremendous addition to the Orange. This player from the Bronx has played 12 games, mainly in special teams, which has given him time to post five total tackles.
Experts are excited about Moultrie-Goddard’s potential to break into the starting rotation this season, now that departures by Syracuse linebackers have left gaps to fill. The Bronx man has a strong frame and moves fast for a player of his size. He also offers the positional versatility to play in any of the three linebacker positions, although experts feel he’ll serve Syracuse best in the middle. He’s good at diagnosing running plays, can dart to the outside on stretch plays, and meets ball carriers with power. Moultrie-Goddard feels the team’s linebackers play similarly to him, so he can keep the team performing on a high level.
The 2025-26 season is going to be a thrilling one for Syracuse, as well as a challenging one, as it tries to integrate its new arrivals into the team and ensure they gel for a stronger defense. Other players to look out for include freshman cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr, who finished 2023 with 56 tackles, and some are already referring to him as the next Duce Chestnut.
