Losing multiple key players to the NFL, the Syracuse offense will look vastly different entering the 2025 college football season. One position group that will see a major change is the running back room. With LeQuint Allen in the NFL and Jordan Montanez transferring out of Syracuse, it’s sophomore Yasin Willis who will likely see the lion’s share of the load this year.
Who is Syracuse RB Yasin Willis?
Yasin Willis was a four-star recruit who played out of St. Joseph Regional high school in New Jersey. Willis was the No. 1 recruit in the state, and had 13 touchdowns with 682 yards in his senior season.
Originally committed to the Pitt Panthers, Willis flipped to Syracuse after fielding offers from the likes of Alabama, Michigan, Penn State and Ole Miss.
Highlights for the latest Syracuse commit Yasin Willis (@willisyasin6). Rivals rates him as a 4-star RB.
Listed at 6’1, 220. Offers from Alabama, Kentucky, Louisville, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Penn St, Ole Miss. 247 says Michigan offered too. Flipped from Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/Ez3YCe5pPN
— Tim Leonard (@Tim_Leonard4) December 11, 2023
Standing at 6-foot-1, Willis looks incredibly imposing on the field for his position. And, to be honest, he looks much bigger in-person. Yet despite his massive frame, Willis has an excellent first step and quickly reaches high-end speed when hitting the second level. And for a player his size, Willis displays great footwork and excellent stop-start speed. This is evident in his ability as a pass-catcher, too.
2024 4️⃣🌟 RB @willisyasin6 has some serious moves for his size.
👤 | https://t.co/EpAthoxIoW pic.twitter.com/76a1gZzpHw
— Richie O’Leary (@RivalsRichie) May 21, 2023
Willis shows good hands, and has the ability to bring in tough catches. It was that trait, among the many, that led to Syracuse targeting the New Jersey native.
Can Yasin Willis be a workhorse for Syracuse?
If you only read box score stats, Yasin Willis’ freshman season with Syracuse was unimpressive. After all, he only had 130 yards on 36 carries with eight catches for 26 yards. Yet that doesn’t paint the full picture.
Willis was the RB2 behind the workhorse running back in college football, LeQuint Allen. Allen’s 858 offensive snaps were first among all running backs in 2024. He had 60 more than Ashton Jeanty, who was second with 798. Meanwhile, Willis only saw 127 offensive snaps as the direct backup. If head coach Fran Brown is consistent with a workhorse running back approach, it bodes extremely well for Willis in 2025.
What fans should also pay attention to, however, is how Willis was used in those 127 snaps as a freshman. Willis ran a route on 54 snaps (42%), meaning he could see a significant workload in the passing attack. This could be especially true now that Trebor Pena is no longer with the team. After all, LeQuint Allen led all running backs in targets in 2024, even with Pena (and a litany of other talented pass-catchers) on the team.
Yet what was more impressive was Willis’ pass-blocking numbers. Despite being a freshman, Willis saw 26 pass-block reps and posted a solid 68.4 blocking grade. Although it’s a small sample size, that number would rank 43rd among 249 qualifying players. Yet, that ability will help keep Willis in a workhorse role within the offense.
What the spring game showed
Being cemented as the starter, Willis didn’t see too much action in the Syracuse spring game. In fact, it was Jordan Montanez who saw the heaviest workload in the game.
Redshirt freshman running back Jordan Montanez — who’s had a big day on the ground and through the air — scurries in for Team Blue’s first TD.
If today’s any indication, Montanez could have a role in 2025. Remember, Will Nixon is out today. pic.twitter.com/RDIh2OVagH
— WAER Sports Talk (@WAERSportsTalk) April 12, 2025
However, Willis did look good when he saw action.
The running back started for the Orange Team. And in the process, had multiple big plays throughout the game.
On the second drive for the Orange Team, Yasin Willis kicks it outside and rushes for 22 yards. He’s looked good in limited touches thus far.#Syracuse | #LetsGoOrange
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) April 12, 2025
Willis consistently made the correct read on his reps throughout the spring session. He also saw the endzone, capping off a 75-yard drive for the Orange Team.
Yasin Willis caps a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive for Team Orange.
Iowa transfer Tripp Woody gets the first extra point rep. Kicking game was a weakness for SU in 2024. pic.twitter.com/DACIhWQz9A
— WAER Sports Talk (@WAERSportsTalk) April 12, 2025
So, while Willis wasn’t expected to see a lion’s share of the workload in that scrimmage, he still performed well when his number was called upon. That’s what you want to see from a presumed starter in that type of environment.
Expectations for 2025
Given LeQuint Allen’s usage from 2024, the lack of depth in the running back room, and questions surrounding the offense as a whole, we can assume Yasin Willis is going to have a heavy workload in 2025. Between rushing and receiving, Willis will be an unexpected dual threat coming out of the backfield for Syracuse.
However, it’s hard to say if Willis will directly replicate the kind of production fans saw last year from Allen. Yet, if Syracuse wishes to have success this season, they’ll need Willis to outperform expectations as a sophomore.
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