Syracuse football (like most programs) has enjoyed its best seasons when it’s had an NFL-caliber quarterback. Donovan McNabb, Ryan Nassib, Kyle McCord.
Interestingly, Fran Brown thinks the Orange may have two.
During an interview this spring with CFB insider Andy Staples, Brown made a bolde prediction for his starting QB.
“I think Steve (Angeli) will be a draft pick as a quarterback.”
It’s a remarkable statement because almost nobody in the current NFL Draft community is projecting Steve Angeli to hear his name called next spring. Yet Brown—who sees him every day—believes Syracuse’s starter has that kind of ability.
But that’s only half the story.
Brown immediately shifted the conversation to Syracuse’s quarterback depth.
“If somebody beats Steve out… bet. Steve’s already on tape.”
Brown built up the QB room so that an injury to Angeli shouldn’t implode the season again.
That’s where Malachi Nelson enters the conversation.
Nelson arrived at Syracuse carrying one of the most decorated résumés in college football. He was once the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country before stops at USC and Boise State. While he has yet to establish himself on the field, Brown couldn’t hide his excitement when talking about him.
“That kid is really good,” Brown said.
“I love that kid.”
“I see what people saw.”
Brown said he believes Nelson has begun rediscovering the confidence and competitive edge that made him one of the nation’s most coveted prospects. By all accounts, Nelson had the NFL skillset when he was being recruited out of high school. 247Sports wrote that Nelson had “elite arm talent and a prototype NFL frame.”
When he enrolled at USC the profiles were even more complimenary. He “projects as a future first-round upside. NFL arm pro-style passer one of the cleanest QB evaluations in years.”
Because of Nelson’s rollercoaster college career, it’s highly doubtful he makes the pros. But he still has the traits that were projected as NFL worthy.
The room is much deeper than last year. Add in Amari Odum, who won a conference championship as a starter, plus Danny Lambert, whom Brown also praised, and thankfully Syracuse’s quarterback room looks nothing like the one that unraveled after Angeli’s injury last season.
In fact, Brown admitted he learned a painful lesson from that collapse.
“I’m not going to get caught like last year.”
One quarterback has an NFL projection from his own head coach.
Another once carried NFL expectations before he ever played a college snap.
Whether both eventually reach that level remains to be seen.
But for the first time in years, the QB situation is strong at mutliple levels.
