2026 Potential Roster / Portal Entries

[PAcuse]

Doesn’t Mark Petry have another year of eligibility after being out with an ACL last season ?

I believe he said he was moving on to the NFL but nothing official from yet that I've seen

 

[richmondcuse03]

I believe he said he was moving on to the NFL but nothing official from yet that I've seen

Yes, he is definitely moving on. He posted about some draft stuff this morning but also I spoke with him a few times this year. Really great young man who had been rehabbing hard to prepare for the draft. Pulling for him to land a spot.

 

[PAcuse]

Yes, he is definitely moving on. He posted about some draft stuff this morning but also I spoke with him a few times this year. Really great young man who had been rehabbing hard to prepare for the draft. Pulling for him to land a spot.

Wish him the best seems like a great person

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

The transfer portal officially closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 16th. Syracuse football navigated the two week opening with the intention of bolstering the roster, including at key positions. CuseNation.com confirmed the list below with Syracuse head coach Fran Brown and Director of Scouting Aaron Mannicci. The list includes multiple names that had not been previously reported. In addition, CuseNation.com spoke with Mannicci regarding Syracuse's efforts in the portal. Those quotes are below the list.

NOTE: South Carolina tight end Michael Smith is listed as signed with Syracuse in the transfer portal. However, TheBigSpur reported earlier this week that Smith was attempting to stay at South Carolina, but Syracuse would not release him from his binding paperwork. CuseNation.com asked a Syracuse spokesperson about the situation, but the spokesperson declined to comment. Therefore, Smith was left off of our list until there is official word one way or the other.

QUARTERBACK

Danny Lauter (Georgetown) ??

Amari Odom (Kennesaw State)


RUNNING BACK

Ju'Juan Johnson (LSU)

Ahmad Miller (Jackson State)

WIDE RECEIVER

Elijah Moore (Florida State)

Matt Outten (Penn State)

Cole Weaver (Miami Ohio)

OFFENSIVE LINE

Oluwafunto Akinshilo (UCLA) ??

DEFENSIVE LINE

Tunmise Adeleye (UNLV)

Jartavius Flounoy (Georgia State)

Dillan Fontus (Maryland)

Keyshawn Johnson (UT-Martin)

LINEBACKER

Chris D'Appolonia (Toledo)

DEFENSIVE BACK

Jai Eugene (Western Kentucky) ??

Amare Snowden (Toledo)

Nazir Ward (Western Kentucky)

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Does the portal closing only count for players entering? If a kid is in the portal you can still sign him? But he cannot come until Summer?

I think we need an experienced C still. I would like an experienced T too. We seem to have too many WRs. Wish we could push a few out after the Spring. Wouldn't mind a grad xfer QB too.

Another LB would be nice. We really need a S, maybe even two. Looking at the roster that worries me the most. We play 3 guys and we have a complete unknown at all three spots?

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

I still think they really need an experienced Safety.

 

[Moontan]

Does the portal closing only count for players entering? If a kid is in the portal you can still sign him? But he cannot come until Summer?

I think we need an experienced C still. I would like an experienced T too. We seem to have too many WRs. Wish we could push a few out after the Spring. Wouldn't mind a grad xfer QB too.

Another LB would be nice. We really need a S, maybe even two. Looking at the roster that worries me the most. We play 3 guys and we have a complete unknown at all three spots?

At SU they could technically still register for the semester on Tuesday. But that’s the last day.

 

[sufan59]

Does the portal closing only count for players entering? If a kid is in the portal you can still sign him? But he cannot come until Summer?

I think we need an experienced C still. I would like an experienced T too. We seem to have too many WRs. Wish we could push a few out after the Spring. Wouldn't mind a grad xfer QB too.

Another LB would be nice. We really need a S, maybe even two. Looking at the roster that worries me the most. We play 3 guys and we have a complete unknown at all three spots?

 

[sufan59]

I still think they really need an experienced Safety.

If they feel they need to they will add. It’s very telling on the confidence they currently have at safety that they didn’t seem to make a big push for Braden Awls from Toledo. Not saying they weren’t interested in him they were, but I would imagine if they needed a sure starter in that room that would’ve been a much bigger push.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

If they feel they need to they will add. It’s very telling on the confidence they currently have at safety that they didn’t seem to make a big push for Braden Awls from Toledo. Not saying they weren’t interested in him they were, but I would imagine if they needed a sure starter in that room that would’ve been a much bigger push.

If they are high on what we have, why didn't they play much last year? Buxton IMO was our worst defender and he was out there all the time.

 

[sufan59]

If they are high on what we have, why didn't they play much last year? Buxton IMO was our worst defender and he was out there all the time.

Development and hopefully better schemes consistently will go a long way. They also have a lot of versatility with the type of defenders they brought in by design. What I’m saying is that if they bring in more players, great. I personally think everything else that goes into winning football games will determine success. I don’t think we have a talent deficiency. We didn’t even last year had Rickie Collins been serviceable.

 

[AngryOtto]

I know with automatic transfers it means nothing and Fran will move players on after the season but only12 seniors with no eligibility left after the season on O and D.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[HRE Otto IV]

It is very possible that we only lose two starters to graduation for 2027. Which means potentially we could have 20 starters coming back. I am sure thought that we will lose some of those to the portal.

If we can keep 15 of the 20 returning starters (one of which is Angeli) and we can keep Nixon, we will be setup for a big 2027. On top of that IMO 2027 is on paper a slightly easier schedule too.

Even the 2 deep we don't lose much to graduation either. IMO only 2 players of significance.

I think if we right the ship and have a nice 7-5 season this year, big things can happen in 2027.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[wfschrec]

Cue the 3 stooges theme song.

 

[upperdeck]

We brought in a new oline coach, and we didnt bring in oline dudes. Makes you wonder what the new guy saw from what we had that he didnt feel the need to at least throw more bodies at the problem.

 

[PhatOrange]

I thought this podcast was decent.

 

[PhatOrange]

We brought in a new oline coach, and we didnt bring in oline dudes. Makes you wonder what the new guy saw from what we had that he didnt feel the need to at least throw more bodies at the problem.

We didn't run any off either. I think they said there's 19 OL on the roster. Biggest concern is center, looks like Hawn and Stewart.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

We brought in a new oline coach, and we didnt bring in oline dudes. Makes you wonder what the new guy saw from what we had that he didnt feel the need to at least throw more bodies at the problem.

Getting good olineman in the portal is going to be very difficult for Syracuse. The big schools are grabbing the all conferance performers from the lower levels. Syracuse either has to find diamond in the roughs or retreards, think Rice and Pringle, through the portal. SU just doesn't have the financial resources to get good portal lineman. Fran has decided to try sign the high school recruits and develop them instead of going throught the portal I think.

 

[upperdeck]

We didn't run any off either. I think they said there's 19 OL on the roster. Biggest concern is center, looks like Hawn and Stewart.

I agree. But if you are the new coach and are looking at your position group and don't see things you can work with, I would have to think you grasp at any straw you can find to improve it.

 

[007]

We brought in a new oline coach, and we didnt bring in oline dudes. Makes you wonder what the new guy saw from what we had that he didnt feel the need to at least throw more bodies at the problem.

I'm guessing it wasn’t the new OL coach who made the assessment of the current state of the OL or the need to add to the room this cycle. Seems reasonable to assume he will have input after he has actually worked with those guys.

 

[upperdeck]

perhaps. But if you are taking over that job one would think you would ask to see film and have discussions with others who have seen them play/practice.

The best hope is they really like the ones that were on the bench

 

[OrangeTarheel]

It is very possible that we only lose two starters to graduation for 2027. Which means potentially we could have 20 starters coming back. I am sure thought that we will lose some of those to the portal.

If we can keep 15 of the 20 returning starters (one of which is Angeli) and we can keep Nixon, we will be setup for a big 2027. On top of that IMO 2027 is on paper a slightly easier schedule too.

Even the 2 deep we don't lose much to graduation either. IMO only 2 players of significance.

I think if we right the ship and have a nice 7-5 season this year, big things can happen in 2027.

I like the thinking on one hand but this coming season was supposed to be Fran’s breakout year. Two years ago was great but it was his first year, last year it was generally acknowledged that it was a tough schedule and might be a rebuilding year. As a fan I don’t want to think of this year as ANOTHER rebuilding season where we hope that our players gain valuable experience and we can convince them to stay.

We are definitely a younger team this season and that typically is a bad sign … but we also have depth pieces and new coaches to get the most from them. I’m a big fan of Fran’s and I don’t want any less than 8 wins in 2026.