'25 Post-Spring Unit Update - WR's and TE's

[0.2 YNdeeR]

WR - Possible Starters
Darrell Gill, Jr. (Jr.) 6-3 173 (3 starts in '24; 31 catches 570 yards 2 TDs; (235 yds in final 3 games)
Justus Ross-Simmons (Sr.) 6-3 212 (1 start in '24, injured early; size and strength. Meeks replacement?)

Umari Hatcher (R-Sr.) 6-3 186 Talented, off-season surgery, didn't play in the spring game

Push for WR Snaps
Emanuel Ross (R-Fr. 4 star) 6-2 212 Size, speed, talent.
Ta'Ron Haile (R-Fr) 6-0 180
Tyshawn Russell (R-So) 5-11 195 Tr. SC, Jan. Enrollee
Jaylan Hornsby (R-Fr) 6-3 213 Big cat, high ceiling, potential as a Meeks-like possession recvr.

Slot/Space Guys (Pena- PedSt. Tr. - Who Steps Up?)
Johntay Cook II (Jr.) 6-0 185 (Tr. Tx,, frmr 5-star) 4.3 but needs to learn DART;
Ja'Meer Thomas (R-Fr) 5-10 169 (looked good in the spring game)
Darius Johnson (Fr) 5-10 160 (also looked good in the spring game)

Frosh WR's
Darien Williams (5-11 160) Sub. 10.6 100M State MVP
Julian McFadden (5-11 170) 4.4/10.7
Terrell Wilfong (6-5 180) 4.4 kid with good size
Gabe Daniels (6-2 190) GA St. Champ 200M (21.2)
Demetres Samuel (Fr.) DB burner; potential 2w player as WR.

TE's (Who steps out from OG's shaddow?)
Dan Villari (RS Sr.) 6-4 241 Can run the wild cat; very strong; hands are questionable;
David Clement (Jr.) 6-6 256 Primarily blocking TE; good athlete but limited as receiver;
Jamie Tremble (So. 4-star) 6-4 208 (4.5 40; needs S/C; ST's in '24; outstanding potential)
Elijah Washington-Baker (R-Fr) 6-7 230 Played ST's; has looked great in spring - high potential

Frosh TE's
Daunte Bacheyie (6-5 205)(4.6/22 flat 200M) Runs like a deer; needs S/C
Wyatt Bowman (6-5 210)(LAX prospect; athlete 4.6 40)

 

[VA Citrus]

I think starting the year off healthy will be big for Villari. He should play more of a traditional two way tight end. Hopefully Jamie Tremble can step up into Orande's spot. Big fast kid who should continue to put on weight. His brother plays for the Carolina Panthers so has the bloodlines and should understand a professional level work ethic. Accepted a bench role last year. I assume he expects to be the heir apparent to OG in 2025.

 

[CbusCuse]

I think starting the year off healthy will be big for Villari. He should play more of a traditional two way tight end. Hopefully Jamie Tremble can step up into Orande's spot. Big fast kid who should continue to put on weight. His brother plays for the Carolina Panthers so has the bloodlines and should understand a professional level work ethic. Accepted a bench role last year. I assume he expects to be the heir apparent to OG in 2025.

Yeah I was going to post something about Tremble and the TE's this morning. Really hope he is ready to contribute as we need a solid receiving threat from this spot and I have high hopes for him. Does anyone have any info on how he looked this spring? I feel like we have heard very little in regards to him. Did he play in the spring game? I was curious about his brother, Tommy Tremble's size so i looked it up. He was 6'-3" and 228 lbs as a freshman and 248 lbs in his second season. So a bit bigger than Jamie as a frosh but it would be excellent if Jamie had a similar weight gain.

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

Yeah I was going to post something about Tremble and the TE's this morning. Really hope he is ready to contribute as we need a solid receiving threat from this spot and I have high hopes for him. Does anyone have any info on how he looked this spring? I feel like we have heard very little in regards to him. Did he play in the spring game? I was curious about his brother, Tommy Tremble's size so i looked it up. He was 6'-3" and 228 lbs as a freshman and 248 lbs in his second season. So a bit bigger than Jamie as a frosh but it would be excellent if Jamie had a similar weight gain.

Fran was clearly keeping things vanilla. There were guys recovering from surgery (Hatcher, Perry), and poaching was a concern. I posted after the game that TE's didn't light up the field - few targets and lots of dysfunctional route-running and passing (tight coverage, which is good). Tremble is very fast for a 6'4 guy (4.5), and was making plays on ST's in the '24 games he got in (e.g., Pitt). Unless someone's got an update I didn't see, it's been radio silence on his progress through the spring.

I did see a couple drills and W-B was looking good, surprisingly quick for a 6-7 guy. Maybe he's another TE that will get targets this year. We have guys that can play - the question is (was), do we have someone that can get them the ball? With Angelli, Collins and Williams .. the QB room is set; what we need now is guys learning the playbook, working with Nixon and getting reps.

 

[tep624]

I just don't see them keeping Emanuel Ross off the field this year.

 

[CbusCuse]

Tons of quickness in this group. We are starting to bring in some top shelf speed.

Gabe Daniels also posted his time on twitter on March 16, 2024. Said he ran a 10.64 100m and had said it was into a headwind and just his second meet.

 

[kcsu]

There is a reason E Ross could have gone to any school he wanted. He has NFL potential.

 

[ImperialOrange]

The most speed we've had across the WR group since the 90s. Don't think any of them will have 80-90 catches like the guys they're replacing but YPC will be higher as we've got sub 4.4/10.6 guys replacing 4.6/11.2 guys

 

[VA Citrus]

Last year OG was the only known commodity and he was coming off injury. Pena was a KR who was constantly injured and Meeks was a special teams guy at UGA who supposedly played really hard.

Rickie and Steve better loosen up their arms because there are going to be a ton of big fast tall dudes that want the ball.

 

[Nick44]

Incredible turnaround from a talent standpoint.

I mean 15 years ago we were in a bowl game (so we were at least a decent team that year) and we were playing a DB (who couldn’t catch for bleep) at WR because we had no talent or speed at the position.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Last year OG was the only known commodity and he was coming off injury. Pena was a KR who was constantly injured and Meeks was a special teams guy at UGA who supposedly played really hard.

Rickie and Steve better loosen up their arms because there are going to be a ton of big fast tall dudes that want the ball.

Have to think we're going to run the ball more this year if the oline allows it but your point stands. Meeks was a dog and made 50:50 balls into 90:10 and Pena being any sort of fast is one of those weird board myths... he never ran away from defenders after the catch or on returns and he was an 11.1+ 100m kid. He did great with the athleticism he had but he bolted because he was worried about not having a qb that can throw him open this year vs many more plus athlete defenders on the schedule.

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

Have to think we're going to run the ball more this year if the oline allows it but your point stands. Meeks was a dog and made 50:50 balls into 90:10 and Pena being any sort of fast is one of those weird board myths... he never ran away from defenders after the catch or on returns and he was an 11.1+ 100m kid. He did great with the athleticism he had but he bolted because he was worried about not having a qb that can throw him open this year vs many more plus athlete defenders on the schedule.

As to Meeks, Pena and Gill finally reaching their potential (not so much OG who had already established himself), that is a credit to the staff's ability to identify talent and run an offense that suits their skill sets. In 2024 we were about 60/40 (598/402) passes to run attempts, so I agree that we could see a little more balance this year with YW and an upgraded OL. But assuming Angelli and/or Collins are what we think they are, there are too many advantages to the horizontal passing (West Coast) offense to justify a significant departure. It negates the pass rush (a perennial SU challenge). It eats up TOP. It opens up the run game. And it's fun to play and watch.

 

[shu 49]

I do see without OG we may run more 4 wide as i think we have Ross, Simmons, Cook, Hatcher, Gill and a few more im forgetting who should get time.

 

[ImperialOrange]

As to Meeks, Pena and Gill finally reaching their potential (not so much OG who had already established himself), that is a credit to the staff's ability to identify talent and run an offense that suits their skill sets. In 2024 we were about 60/40 (598/402) passes to run attempts, so I agree that we could see a little more balance this year with YW and an upgraded OL. But assuming Angelli and/or Collins are what we think they are, there are too many advantages to the horizontal passing (West Coast) offense to justify a significant departure. It negates the pass rush (a perennial SU challenge). It eats up TOP. It opens up the run game. And it's fun to play and watch.

I expect more chunk plays due to more explosive skill position players. That pass:run ratio drops with WRs turning 8-10 yard gains into 15+. I also think we're going to miss Laquint a lot more than many are mentioning which will result in more carries for similar yardage. I still expect our offense to be potent but numbers to look different.

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

I expect more chunk plays due to more explosive skill position players. That pass:run ratio drops with WRs turning 8-10 yard gains into 15+. I also think we're going to miss Laquint a lot more than many are mentioning which will result in more carries for similar yardage. I still expect our offense to be potent but numbers to look different.

Replacing LQA is not going to be seamless. But there are challenges on the passing side too: with OG and Pena gone we'll be fielding inexperienced guys in the slot and at TE. Add to that a new (comparatively few starts) set of WR's and a new QB. I like our talent, but so much of the passing attack is receiver-QB timing and coordination ... which take time. I'm projecting Gill to break out, JRS to be a Meeks-like possession guy, and Ross to emerge as an all-ACC level WR. Cook might be even better than Pena. But all this has to be demonstrated on the field - along with YW and a newly revamped OL (without a seasoned starter in Petry). Let's just say the staff has their work cut out between now and UT.

 

[ImperialOrange]

It's not just replacing LQA. With OG and Pena gone, we'll be fielding inexperienced guys in the slot, along with new set of WR's and a new QB. I like our talent, but so much of the passing attack is receiver-QB timing and coordination ... and that takes time. I'm projecting JRS as a Meeks-like possession guy. We'll see. I also think Cook is even more talented than Pena, but he has to show it on the field. True, same with YW. And a newly revamped OL. Lots of wrinkles to iron out between now and UT.

JRS wasn't 100% last year. I love Meeks but Justus has a lot more size and speed. OG and LQA were both unicorns in versatility but I think we'll compensate with more 4 WR sets to get Cooks, Ross or Boobie matched up on nickel, S or LBs while also creating a light box to try and stop Yasin. I think Jaden Hart is our most complete RB and lots are sleeping on him but also Malachi James is currently running 10.29 100s along with Malachi Coleman running 10.8s. We legit have a team full of guys as fast as or faster than Jahwar Jordan now who was obviously our fastest player prior to transferring

 

[kcsu]

JRS wasn't 100% last year. I love Meeks but Justus has a lot more size and speed. OG and LQA were both unicorns in versatility but I think we'll compensate with more 4 WR sets to get Cooks, Ross or Boobie matched up on nickel, S or LBs while also creating a light box to try and stop Yasin. I think Jaden Hart is our most complete RB and lots are sleeping on him but also Malachi James is currently running 10.29 100s along with Malachi Coleman running 10.8s. We legit have a team full of guys as fast as or faster than Jahwar Jordan now who was obviously our fastest player prior to transferring

The most speed I have seen on a Syracuse team.

 

[721Comstock]

The most speed I have seen on a Syracuse team.

You must be young.

Qadry Ismail and Kirby Dar Dar say Hi!

 

[DomeHolmes]

Replacing LQA is not going to be seamless. But there are challenges on the passing side too: with OG and Pena gone we'll be fielding inexperienced guys in the slot and at TE. Add to that a new (comparatively few starts) set of WR's and a new QB. I like our talent, but so much of the passing attack is receiver-QB timing and coordination ... which take time. I'm projecting Gill to break out, JRS to be a Meeks-like possession guy, and Ross to emerge as an all-ACC level WR. Cook might be even better than Pena. But all this has to be demonstrated on the field - along with YW and a newly revamped OL (without a seasoned starter in Petry). Let's just say the staff has their work cut out between now and UT.

On replacing LQA, Nixons skill set was very similar and we really didn’t have to change anything when he came in. (Willis was a little different).

But I agree, we really have some of the same issues as last year (as was said before), but we are in better shape as far as continuity. Last year, Gadsden and LQA (and Reed) were the only known commodities. With a mostly new OL, new QB, Wide outs, and the other two running backs. This year the QB will be new, but we have more returning running backs who know what Dixon wants to do, more returning receivers that know what Nixon wants to do, and the offensive line has one more returning starter.

The key to the whole thing is the quarterback. We plugged in a brand new guy last year and he was great from the get-go. We just need our QBs to be pretty good and play within themselves.

 

[CbusCuse]

On replacing LQA, Nixons skill set was very similar and we really didn’t have to change anything when he came in. (Willis was a little different).

But I agree, we really have some of the same issues as last year (as was said before), but we are in better shape as far as continuity. Last year, Gadsden and LQA (and Reed) were the only known commodities. With a mostly new OL, new QB, Wide outs, and the other two running backs. This year the QB will be new, but we have more returning running backs who know what Dixon wants to do, more returning receivers that know what Nixon wants to do, and the offensive line has one more returning starter.

The key to the whole thing is the quarterback. We plugged in a brand new guy last year and he was great from the get-go. We just need our QBs to be pretty good and play within themselves.

Agreed. I do wonder how quickly everyone will be comfortable in the offense if Angeli is the starter considering we didn’t have an entire spring to integrate him. I guess, luckily Tennessee will be in the same boat game 1.