The Syracuse Orange football team enters 2025 with a lot of questions about the roster. There’s a competitive quarterback battle raging on in Syracuse fall camp. And, even though head coach Fran Brown said that starters and backups will be named on Wednesday, that doesn’t mean the depth chart will stay that way until Week 1. There’s also questions surrounding the trenches on both sides of the ball. And, the wide receiver room could be a position group that may be an underrated strength for Syracuse as they enter the regular season.
The early portions of fall camp have provided intriguing tidbits of information. Yet instead of focusing on buzz words, we’ll look at the underlying layer of the Orange (no pun intended), and parse through what’s important for fans to know as we get closer to the regular season.
Syracuse Football: Fall Camp Progress Report
Ignore the Misconceptions
One misconception that fans are being told is that there is a definitive leader in the quarterback battle. In reality, that simply isn’t true. That’s because there’s only been one portion of “live” reps available to the media. On top of that, head coach Fran Brown has stated that starters and backups won’t be named until Wednesday. And, when pushed about the quarterback battle, he all-but said the position was completely up for grabs.
The next misconception is that the defensive backs are performing poorly. In reality, there are multiple clips of the defense performing well. And, in the brief live session available, the cornerbacks performed well and were tight in coverage. One-on-one’s only benefit the receivers, so take them with a grain of salt.
Fran Brown is always good for a quote, and the 4th-and-1 and 4th-and-9 shirts may seem buzz-wordy, but this program is as serious as can be. They know a tough schedule is ahead, and they are approaching it appropriately.
Fran Brown and the Coaching Staff
One of the main reasons why I personally wanted to cover the Syracuse football program was because of Fran Brown. My love for the defensive side of the ball and cornerbacks aside, you’re hard-pressed to find someone as passionate as Coach Brown. And that passion is evident on the practice field.
Brown knows when to be playful with his athletes and when to kick them into gear. And that goes for more than just the players. Brown has no problem getting into his coaching staff if he believes they aren’t doing their part. He never loses focus on the task at hand, and technique is at the forefront of every positional drill. That mentality extends to the rest of the coaching staff, too.
I’ve lost track at how many times Coach Brown or one of the other members of the staff have had a player replay their rep until it’s done perfectly. That’s not because they are picking on the player, either. Instead, it’s instilling in them proper technique – something that they will need to have in order to perform at the highest level.
The staff doesn’t put up with diva mentalities, either. One interesting bit of information came from special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield, who mentioned that some “starters” along the offense and defense will play special teams.
It’s that type of do-it-all mentality that will help this program become a singular unit. And, that could help them win multiple football games this year.
Player Standouts at Syracuse Fall Camp
With limited viewing sessions and position groups spread across two fields, having a complete list of standout players is difficult. However, given what I’ve seen, these are the Syracuse players that have impressed me during fall camp.
Darius Johnson, Wide Receiver
Unfortunately, Johnson suffered a fractured bone during the team’s scrimmage on Saturday and will miss at least five weeks. However, prior to that, he was proving to become a dominant force in the slot.
Freshman wide receiver Darius Johnson continues to look great as a route runner. I haven’t seen him lose a rep yet. Very excited to see how he’s utilized this season.#Syracuse | #GoOrange pic.twitter.com/BmLuUMFgNb
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) August 7, 2025
Johnson runs routes with precision, a quick step, and elite movement at the top of his routes. The freshman is a player I’ve been high on before the Spring Game, and he was continuing that ascension prior to injury. Coach Brown suggested that Johnson was “running with the two’s” prior to his injury.
Darrell Gill, Wide Receiver
Unfortunately, the track star missed a decent portion of spring camp due to track obligations. However, it seems like that (along with summer work) has turned Gill into a finely-tuned machine.
The receiver looks impeccably smooth in his route-running, and ability to blow past defenders. And, even when he’s battling for position, Gill has made some incredible contested catches in one-on-one’s.
Darrell Gill makes an incredible contested catch against great coverage from Demetres Samuel. The speedster has impressed so far in today’s practice.#Syracuse | #GoOrange pic.twitter.com/cEz3J3cqYY
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) August 5, 2025
Syracuse will need a reliable deep threat on offense, and Gill is proving he can do that during fall camp.
David Reese, Defensive Lineman
Personally, it should be expected for an eighth-year senior to perform well. Yet, it shouldn’t go unnoticed when someone is doing their job at a high level. In drill work and in live reps, Reese has looked impressive.
During live reps, Reese blew by the left tackle in what would have been a sack in a live game. Then, on the following play, he split a double team (left tackle and tight end who was motioned to help) and made a stop.
Talent was never a concern for Reese, it was health. And if he can stay healthy, he may surpass his production from two years at California in just one year with Syracuse.
Jalil Martin, Defensive Back
A minor contributor in 2024, the Nebraska transfer is playing with a chip on his shoulder during Syracuse fall camp. Whether it’s coverage, tackling, or special teams drills, Martin is putting in incredible effort and is worth acknowledging here.
Working a rushing drill and DB Jalil Martin absolutely blows it up. Great effort on display there.#Syracuse | #GoOrange pic.twitter.com/qOQ2SpiYK2
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) August 5, 2025
Devin Grant, Defensive Back
Grant has proven to be a vocal leader in the secondary, and his performance during fall camp echoes his vocal nature. One distinct moment in camp thus far was when Grant put the clamps on Johntay Cook in a one-on-one drill. That led to the two jawing back and forth after the rep.
I know fans are worried about the secondary, but with veteran players like Grant leading by example, they should be in good shape entering the regular season.
Demetres Samuel Jr., Cornerback
It’d be wrong if I didn’t include Samuel on this list. At 17 years old, he’s already showing that he can be a truly dominant cornerback for Syracuse. His technique is great, and his coverage is sticky. On top of that, Coach Brown is making sure he’s mentally and physically prepared for the regular season.
As a receiver, Samuel still has work to do. However, he’s improving with each passing day on that end, too. Still, we need to applaud Samuel not just for his effort, but his effectiveness at such a young age.
Questions Entering 2025
Despite the positive vibes and work ethic on display by Syracuse, there are some questions as the end of fall camp nears.
Who’s QB1?
As previously stated, anyone suggesting there’s a definitive starter at quarterback is blowing smoke. Both quarterbacks are sharing reps and getting their chance to prove themselves to the coaching staff. However, we can guess as to how it will shake out.
Speculation amongst most of the media is that Rickie Collins will get the first shot at the starting job. He brings versatility to the offense, has more time within the offense, and does some unique things that Steve Angeli may have difficulties with. However, Angeli shows good command of the offense and a strong arm.
While we’ll get some clarity on this position battle Wednesday, there’s likely a chance fans see both quarterbacks play this season. Meaning, I don’t think a starter being named is all too important right now. Fran Brown said that the battle was “51-49”, and to me that means we will likely see both players get opportunities early in the season.
Who Emerges from the Trenches?
Another question for Syracuse entering 2025 is the trenches on both sides of the ball. Both units will see new faces manning important positions this season.
On offense, the right side of the line has looked good in live drills. They secure their blocks in the passing game, and push the line ahead in the run game. However, the left side may be an area of concern. Live reps showcased a side that has issues stopping penetration. And, considering their schedule this year, that could be a serious problem.
On defense, it’s been hard to truly find a player that’s stood out (outside of the aforementioned Reese). Part of that is because there were few live reps. The other part is that one-on-one’s with the offensive line have been on the far side of the field. While those reps have shown the defense getting the better of the offense, specific numbers were impossible to get. And, for an offensive line that might now “wow” anyone, it’s hard to gauge the true talent level on the other side of the ball.
The one positive for both units, however, is that it creates opportunity. Someone will have to step up for Syracuse, and we’ll see who that ends up being sooner than later. And, to be honest, that message extends to the rest of the team.
With a gauntlet of a schedule, Syracuse will need to be revving on all cylinders this year. And if they’re able to convert on the football field, there’s a real chance the program can find themselves in the postseason.
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