This is why I said weeks ago all this Sun Tzu aura stuff from Tillman works until it doesn't, much like Danowski. 2 solid FOGOs that helped their team win lots of games get kicked to the curb in the blink of an eye. Does it mean it will cause issues? Obviously not, but this stuff can add up and blow up. Virginia is learning all about that right now.
2026 Transfer Thread
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Harpcuselax
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Is Syracuse looking to add any reinforcements on O? Seems odd to be relying on true freshmen and redshirt freshmen
PhatOrange
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LoL. Tillman just played in another championship game and punked us twice in the same season. I'll take his 'works until it doesn't" any time. Always be cruiting, ask Fran Brown. Rickie Collins just read this and said no kidding.
OrangeXtreme
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Take it as much as you want it. I just remember hearing the exact same things about Danowski.
Powellfan
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I mean, it has been working. No one of any real significance seems to leave that program. Spencer Ford was the fourth ranked recruit last year, redshirted and what does Tillman do? Bring in two high level attackmen. Ford seems content to ride the pine another year. I doubt Creter or Carrier will leave either.
Most other places you’d be right, and you’d risk upsetting the locker room and driving people away. Tillman must do one heck of a job keeping kids connected. Or they are happy just to ride the pine and make the final four three out of every four years. There really doesn’t seem to be a reason why Ford or the other fogos should stay. I don’t get it.
Zack80
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Well, we haven't made it through the summer yet.
I think one thing Ford and the other young offensive players can see is that 5 of the Terps probable starters for 2026: Spanos, Erksa, Whittier, L.Johnson and Lyons will finish up leaving lots of starting space in 2027 on the offense.
Sean Creter had injury problems this past spring and struggled a bit too. I think this pretty much forced Tillman's hand to try to get another FO man.
Agreed. These guys are out there to try to win championships. Just as players have the right to go anywhere, coaches have the right to build their best team. It can have downstream effects at some point, that's a risk am pretty sure coaches are aware of and need to coach to.
The rest is players gotta go out and win time.
coaches have been planning for it since the last recruiting cycle at least. and that's if their own in house limits weren't lower.
if anything, the judge has forced a change to grandfather in overages into the settlement.
none of which is to say a coach won't lean on "numbers" if they want to make room for someone else.
JeremyCuse
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Ya I can't blame Maryland, if you can put together a team with high end guys you do it. Obviously there are potential pitfalls and the following year they will lose a ton but it's worth if if you can get a title.
Powellfan
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Looks like Hopkins is hoping that either their incoming freshman Swinnie from Lawrenceville will be their main FOGO, or that their rising sophomore Hobot will drastically improve. Kryszak was 61% but only took 84 face-offs and didn't face the best competition. Maybe they will add someone else?
Still some intriguing names in the portal for FOGOs. Chris Esposito from Stony Brook, Chase Mullins from Penn State, Zach Hepworth from OSU and Matthew Riley from Georgetown are all included in IL's list of "honorable mentions". Jack Rogers from VMI is on the FanLax list but not on IL's. Feels like he's a name to watch (192-356, 54%).
Feels like SU really has to grab one of these guys given their depth issues.
OrangeXtreme
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Two FOGOs isn’t enough. I’d like to see 4.
JeremyCuse
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Assuming SU adds one via the portal that will give us three going into next year. I agree that 3 is bit precarious especially if you get an injury or 2 but with teams dealing with the likely roster caps not sure they have much choice. In an emergency Jake Spallina did faceoff in HS a decent amount (god I hope it doesn't come to that).
nyclax
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hepworths going to bucknell to be their starter most likely...
esposito is looking for a starting opportunity so i dont think cuse is a good fit...i believe notre dame is in on him after losing lynch...i could also see him landing somewhere like denver...
rogers is solid but hes coming off injury...didnt play this year...
mullins i could potentially see for the orange but havent heard...will ask around...
Powellfan
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Thanks, Mullins could be a good fit. He was third string for the Nittany Lions this year and went just 9-28 on his face-offs, but he was 52% in 2024 with 204 draws. Obviously he was the top FOGO recruit a number of years ago, but that hasn't panned out. Maybe he finally wants to be the undisputed #1 guy and obviously that wouldn't make SU a good fit.
Riley from Georgetown could also make sense. Career backup, he's under 50% for three combined years, but mostly due to a really bad 2024 (20-58, 35%). In 2023 he was 53% and last year 51%. Has taken just 163 total face-offs, so not a ton to go off of. Big question is if some of these guys want to go to a contender and be a backup, or go to a school with less of a chance and be a starter? Tough call for guys who are going into their last year of eligibility.
cuselaxss26
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Curious why birtwhisle would enter specially off injury as one he had. As he clearly had home on second line n could been productive. Unless he’s looking to go to smaller school n start at attack as coming off major injury can’t see top school taking risk on him getting back to his first season of cuse playing. Hope best for him wish he stayed n helped be veteran to second middie line.
JeremyCuse
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Two likely reasons, This would be year six for him, all the guys he came in with are now gone. Yes he has his new teammates and friends but it can also feel a bit awkward. At some point you kind of want to move on, similar thing happened with Dordevic. Hard to blame these guys, I doubt I would have wanted to attend my college for another year or 2 after everyone was gone from my grad class
2nd is he probably wants to play attack. He's a natural attackmen and that's where he had his most success here. He's never looked fully comfortable at middie.
cusefan88
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Kyle Lewis from D2 Champs Adelphi is transferring according to this.
Zack80
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You knew Notre Dame would get involved in this at some point. I believe OSU fans were hoping for Yago, but perhaps Yago's game was too similar to Garrett Haas' game.
You wonder if bringing in Yago is stepping on junior Brock Behrman's toes a bit.
Whitey23
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Woah, he's a rising senior so he owes the govt some money.
