Darrell Gill Jr, Syracuse’s second-highest receiver from 2025, announced to recruiting and transfer portal insider platform On3 that he will enter his name into the transfer portal a few hours ago. Gill posted 506 yards in his third year with the Orange and lead the team with five receiving touchdowns. He was on pace for over 1000 yards before quarterback Steve Angeli’s season-ending Achillies injury.
What did Gill bring to SU’s offense?
On top of the aforementioned numbers, his six-foot-three-inch frame helped him to be the ‘Cuse’s “Deep-ball threat” after Trebor Pena’s transfer portal exit to Penn State last offseason. Gill had a role, and he played the part well; he stretched the field so that pass-catchers such as Dan Villari and Emmanuel Ross could collect short plays. His average reception length was 15.8 yards, moving the sticks on each play. 2026 is supposed to bring a stronger offensive line unit for Syracuse, meaning Gill would’ve been able to stretch out his routes longer with a stable pocket for his quarterback. While Johntay Cook brought the speed, Gill was trusted as the sure hands for tough routes and any 50-50 balls. He even made a highlight touchdown catch that made Randy Moss’ “Mossed” segment and was named SportsCenter’s top play of the night. He was the Orange’s traditional “X” receiver; the type of player that programs will pay handsomely similar to Pena year ago.
How can Syracuse recoup his production?
First off, five-star Calvin Russell is a blue-chip prospect who will be an impact player from day 1. Russell signed with Syracuse in early December and will join the team for spring practices. Orange fans may even get their first look at the Miami native in April’s spring game.
Secondly, Fran Brown and the SU staff must be prepared to grab the players from smaller Group Of Five schools just as college football’s power programs have done to ‘Cuse the past two years of the transfer portal era. The portal and NIL has turned college football into a dog-eat-dog world; When talent leaves for a stronger program and more scouting eyeballs, Syracuse needs to be able to pick through the talent of those schools lower than them on the college football food chain. Many players on top 25 teams such as James Madison and North Texas would love to opportunity to compete in the ACC, and catch passes from a quarterback who at one point was leading the nation in passing yards.
Angeli and the star freshman duo of Demetrius Samuel Jr and Antoine Deslauries all pledged their commitment for 2026. The Orange retained their 2026 recruitng class. The building blocks are there, the question now becomes can SU fortify its base?
