Syracuse Football: Key Positions Battles Ahead of Spring Game

The dream of seeing the Syracuse Orange take on the Colorado Buffaloes in an NFL-style scrimmage may be on hold (for now), but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of excitement for the team’s spring game on April 12. With numerous starters leaving for the NFL, those voids will need to be filled. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the key position battles for the Syracuse football team leading up to the spring game.

Syracuse Football: Position Battles to Watch Ahead of Spring Game

Who is QB1?

To be honest, it’s a little surprising that head coach Fran Brown has yet to name his starting quarterback. It’s not a decision that should be rushed. After all, replacing Kyle McCord will be no easy task. However, coach Brown did state that he wasn’t going to play games and delay this decision. While I expect coach to make that decision soon, for now all we can do is speculate.

At the moment, it seems like the position may come down to two players: redshirt senior Michael Johnson Jr. and redshirt sophomore Rickie Collins. Both players are the only quarterbacks on the roster with actual game experience. However, Johnson was used as more of a wildcat quarterback with Florida Atlantic in 2023, where he led the Owls in rushing touchdowns (7). Yet, he has just three pass attempts in his FBS career thus far.

In spring sessions, Collins has seemed like the best passer at the position group. While there may be a window for some of the other freshman to move up the depth chart, I believe both Collins and Johnson will see playing time for the Orange this season.

A Running Back By Committee?

With LeQuint Allen gone, someone will need to step up for the Orange. With the spring football game on the horizon, there’s a chance Syracuse could deploy a committee approach. After all, there isn’t a do-it-all player on the roster to replace Allen’s production.

Yasin Willis has the potential to be the RB1 given his 6-foot-1, 225 pound frame. Yet he still has much to improve on as a pure running back. The sophomore only carried a 3.6 rushing average on 36 carries last year.

Yet another option is Will Nixon. The redshirt senior only played in three games last season before suffering a Lisfranc injury. However, he showed bursts in the run game, and ability as a pass-catcher, too.

Behind these two, sophomores Jaden Hart and Tyler Chandler could see some action, although they played quite sparingly last season. The lack of a true RB1 in this group also leaves room for Malachi James, Malachi Coleman, and Jordan Montanez to carve out a role.

This is one position group I’ll be keeping a close eye on. Not only must these backs perform as pure runners, but they will need to excel in pass protection, too. And at the moment, it’s wide open heading into the Syracuse spring football game.

Who Plays Second Fiddle at Wide Receiver?

There’s no question that Trebor Pena will be the WR1 for Syracuse this season. However, how the rest of the position group fills out will be interesting to see.

Junior Darrell Gill is likely to remain as the team’s deep threat. The receiver posted 18.4 yards per reception last year. It seems likely that the track star will stay in that role for Syracuse this season.

There’s speculation that redshirt senior Umari Hatcher and senior Justus Ross-Simmons will play a major role this year, but I personally have my eyes on some of the underclassmen in this group.

Freshman Darius Johnson has looked excellent in spring practice for Syracuse so far. While he may be limited to the slot, he’ll be a versatile option for the Orange offense (and special teams). Redshirt freshman Emanuel Ross is another player who’s caught my eye in spring practices. At 6-foot-2, Ross has good size and strong hands for the position. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Jackson Meeks, who left for the NFL draft. If Ross can put it together, he has a chance to be one of the team’s boundary receivers this year.

Redshirt sophomore Tyshawn Russell is another interesting player to keep an eye on. While he’s had a rough start to the spring practice sessions, he quickly increased his work ethic in hopes to be a major player on the Syracuse football team. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Jaylan Hornsby is another player to keep an eye on – and a favorite amongst the Syracuse beat.

While the rest of the group may contribute this season, it’s hard to put stock into them carving out a significant role this year. At least, not at the moment.

Big Shoes to Fill at Linebacker

With the departure of both Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron, there’s big shoes to fill at the linebacker position for Syracuse during spring football. The most logical players to step up should be redshirt seniors Derek McDonald and Anwar Sparrow. However, behind him, there’s very little experience.

James Heard and David Omopariola could also be in the mix, considering that they both saw an increase in playing time during Wax’s absence last season.

Also, Fatim Diggs and Fran Brown Jr., both legacy players, have the name value but it remains to be seen as to how effective they will be on the defense this season.

Regardless, this unit will have all eyes on them as they enter the spring football game. Linebackers are the heart of a defense in most cases, so these position battles will be extremely important.

Other Notes

• The secondary have lost some key players, but they are a unit full of depth and elite talent. While there are some battles to watch here, this group is one I’m not particularly worried about.
• The defensive line will need to find a replacement for the production of Fadil Diggs, who is heading to the NFL draft. This could be a death-by-attrition committee, which could work if everyone plays their part.
• The offensive line should be fine – for the time being. We will get more information here after we see them in real action during the spring game.
• There’s no replacing Oronde Gadsden at tight end. And, that likely means that Syracuse fans will see a committee approach at the position. If nothing else, this group may be more of a blocking unit than a receiving unit this season.