Darrell Gill Jr. in the portal

[dollarbill44]

Every season now, for every sport, just tell me who's on the roster for game 1 and we'll see if they're any good. This is where college sports are, unfortunately. Perpetual free agency is the worst structure in all of professional sports.

 

[orangepassion]

I’d be surprised if Russell doesn’t start. You don’t bring in a 5 star to Syracuse and not start him and expect to get more five stars in the future.

Wouldn't shock me, but how good will he be as a True Freshman? I hope he'll be really good, but will have a hard time being better than a Senior Gill

 

[JKinUtah]

Every season now, for every sport, just tell me who's on the roster for game 1 and we'll see if they're any good. This is where college sports are, unfortunately. Perpetual free agency is the worst structure in all of professional sports.

Way better to just root for the name on the front and not worry about the name on the back of the jersey. Too much time/energy to keep track of it all otherwise. It’s kind of like mid season baseball where there’s a bunch of bullpen guys that come and go and you never quite know who they are, but you root for them because they pitch for your team.

 

[djorange1989]

How are you going to be a program that is centered on player development via high school recruiting if you lose your would be star players as soon as their upperclassmen?

People are shrugging off Willis like it’s no big deal, but he was a true sophomore who was successful when we had a QB who could make a forward pass. Gill would have been a #1 WR. You can’t lose your #1 RB and #1 WR and just say that’s portal life. As Fran said his interpretation of the portal is swapping 2’s. That’s not what’s happening now. This roster right now is pure trash with very few established players.

I said it years ago and would consistently get hammered. They are going to have a tough time competing in this new portal era because we will consistently lose the would be upperclassmen who would be our leaders. If you don’t have the money, you’re not going to win. We can’t get established stars out of the portal. They will get guys with potential, or younger guys, which doesn’t replace those who produced as younger guys when they’re entering their junior and senior seasons.

This is a total rebuild. Lost our entire WR room. How did Fran not know White was a psychopath? I’m sure that has some to do with it, combined with not wanting to risk another year where Steve gets hurt, or is not ready to play, with the QB’s we currently have backing him up. This better be a monster portal class or next season will be a disaster.

This is a really tough spot. College football is going down the road of college hoops. Getting to the point where it’s a new roster every year and makes it tough to buy in.

Fran retained all of our best guys when he came in, and added to the talent. Losing two guys of note doesn’t mean we are screwed as a program

 

[Hawknate144]

Wouldn't shock me, but how good will he be as a True Freshman who played QB for his HS team last year? I hope he'll be really good, but will have a hard time being better than a Senior Gill

he wasnt a QB for his team last year, that was more his Sophomore year and a bit of his junior year.

 

[ElwoodJBlues]

Bigger programs can and will pay a 3/4 receiver what this program pays a 1 or 2…..

 

[anomander]

Fran retained all of our best guys when he came in, and added to the talent. Losing two guys of note doesn’t mean we are screwed as a program

He lost 2 guys who produced, both #1’s at their respected skill position.

He also lost his developmental depth in Ross and Hornsby, who both played, and were becoming upperclassmen with 2 years in the program.

Also lost some promising Freshman who barely played, but many were high on in Singleton and Gillians, one of NYS top recruits from 2025.

I realize this is the way of things these days and everyone losses kids they wanted to keep, but this isn’t nothing. The question is do we replace them with better players through the portal. I’d wager it will be tough.

 

[Chip]

Paging Mr. Boggs and Mr. Montgomery...

Would be the third most famous Boggs I know.

One rode a horse in Yankee Stadium after a World Series win and once drank between 64 and 73 beers on a trans continental flight.

The other lived his remaining years after Shawshank eating through a straw. Don't try to make the hot shot banker your girlfriend.

 

[Blanko97]

I wanted Willis to take a step forward but sadly he did not this year. Unclear if he will moving forward. But you can put him in a different box than Gill and others because he wanted to stay. Everyone rips on DART but there’s a reason Willis isn’t here.

We weren’t paying Gill like he was a number one. You can disagree with that decision but is what it is.

Also we haven’t lost the entire WR room. We lost one proven guy and two others with potential in Ross and Hornsby. JRS graduates but was often hurt.

We bring back Cook, Russell, Williams, Boobie, and several other true freshman with potential. We honestly had too many WRs on the roster and needed to thin it out. Again you can disagree with who is staying but I think there are several freshman who can be the deep threat Gill was. And we’re paying Calvin to be a star.

I think you could thin out the bottom while keeping Gill. If we’re cheaping out already that’s a bad sign…

 

[ImperialOrange]

No I get it believe me. Part of this is betting on himself he’s got one more year to put out tape to make the NFL and I’m sure the last 8 games of this year weighed on his conscience heavily. As others mentioned he can probably make more $ elsewhere too.

But my point was he is not irreplaceable by any means and we have bigger needs regardless. I’d rather spend that $ to strengthen the 2 deep than keep a guy who is very likely a UDFA at a position where you’ll have two former 5 stars playing already anyways (Calvin and Cook). And it looks like our GM thinks the same.

Time will tell but full time players that average his YPC are a lot more rare for us than most. Cook is a slot WR, Boobie is a slot, Calvin is a complete unknown at this level, and Merriweather looks more like Meeks than he does a burner. Gough might be the guy but again still an unknown.

Gill was unique to anyone else we had but perhaps we'll now find a suitable replacement. He effectively turned into what we all thought Umari Hatcher would be.

We think that a replacement is going to cost less though if we couldn't even convince a program player to stay? We have that extra money with an empty RB and QB room to fill along with DL and OL bodies and upgrades needed?

At this point we just need 1/3 to get here so we can see what the reverse churn starts to brings in.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I’m not sure how things will shake out. Russell seemed like a good slot option when he was healthy too. We need some physical possession wide receivers. Calvin could be one but I’m assuming a freshman takes a step forward or we address in the portal.

Don't forget Merriweather is coming in. Presume his physicality is the primary reason for it.

 

[richmondcuse03]

Don't forget Merriweather is coming in. Presume his physicality is the primary reason for it.

completely forgot about him, good reminder!

 

[djorange1989]

He lost 2 guys who produced, both #1’s at their respected skill position.

He also lost his developmental depth in Ross and Hornsby, who both played, and were becoming upperclassmen with 2 years in the program.

Also lost some promising Freshman who barely played, but many were high on in Singleton and Gillians, one of NYS top recruits from 2025.

I realize this is the way of things these days and everyone losses kids they wanted to keep, but this isn’t nothing. The question is do we replace them with better players through the portal. I’d wager it will be tough.

I agree that it isn’t nothing. Let’s see what happens in these coming weeks. Fran needs to do what he did in his first portal year at SU and then some. Can’t have a portal season like the one last year with just a couple of impact guys

 

[ImperialOrange]

completely forgot about him, good reminder!

His film actually looks pretty nice but no idea the competition level.

 

[bigmike]

Every season now, for every sport, just tell me who's on the roster for game 1 and we'll see if they're any good. This is where college sports are, unfortunately. Perpetual free agency is the worst structure in all of professional sports.

Nailed it - I feel the same way. It’s the boomers lament.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Wouldn't shock me, but how good will he be as a True Freshman who played QB for his HS team last year? I hope he'll be really good, but will have a hard time being better than a Senior Gill

He played 1 game as a Quarterback last year? The rest of the games he played he played WR.

 

[llandz]

Not sure what trips looked like for his family to see him play but I'm sure he has a ton of viable options that are easier trips than would be the case vs traveling to and from Syracuse. If he ends up at UT, ATM, TT, OU, etc I think the story will tell itself.

I'm sure you're as bummed out, or moreso, as I am. Great kid, huge potential, and one of my personal favorites. Kind of hoping (probably against conventional wisdom) that we at least get a chance to match, or beat, whatever offers he receives in the portal. Maybe we'll have a known entity at QB outside of Angeli by then.

They flew in for quite a few games. Also several road games.

 

[llandz]

Yes. I feel that way about Trebor Pena. Gave us a lot over the years. It’s not their fault the times have changed. Someone who is here the majority of time is Orange. That is my opinion as someone who has spent years on the frontline of SU engagement.

 

[cayugacuse]

Time will tell but full time players that average his YPC are a lot more rare for us than most. Cook is a slot WR, Boobie is a slot, Calvin is a complete unknown at this level, and Merriweather looks more like Meeks than he does a burner. Gough might be the guy but again still an unknown.

Gill was unique to anyone else we had but perhaps we'll now find a suitable replacement. He effectively turned into what we all thought Umari Hatcher would be.

We think that a replacement is going to cost less though if we couldn't even convince a program player to stay? We have that extra money with an empty RB and QB room to fill along with DL and OL bodies and upgrades needed?

At this point we just need 1/3 to get here so we can see what the reverse churn starts to brings in.

May be crazy thinking Daunte Bacheyie can be our next Orande Gadsden, wr/te hybrid type. He has the size and speed to be a mismatch.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Time will tell but full time players that average his YPC are a lot more rare for us than most. Cook is a slot WR, Boobie is a slot, Calvin is a complete unknown at this level, and Merriweather looks more like Meeks than he does a burner. Gough might be the guy but again still an unknown.

Gill was unique to anyone else we had but perhaps we'll now find a suitable replacement. He effectively turned into what we all thought Umari Hatcher would be.

We think that a replacement is going to cost less though if we couldn't even convince a program player to stay? We have that extra money with an empty RB and QB room to fill along with DL and OL bodies and upgrades needed?

At this point we just need 1/3 to get here so we can see what the reverse churn starts to brings in.

Cook can play outside as well

 

[Hawknate144]

May be crazy thinking Daunte Bacheyie can be our next Orande Gadsden, wr/te hybrid type. He has the size and speed to be a mismatch.

I think it's unreasonable to expect a 1 for 1, but he would certainly become that type of player

 

[wfschrec]

Yes. I feel that way about Trebor Pena. Gave us a lot over the years. It’s not their fault the times have changed. Someone who is here the majority of time is Orange. That is my opinion as someone who has spent years on the frontline of SU engagement.

Lets not sugar coat it with Pena though. Yes times have changed but that doesn't mean you have to embrace it either. Pena stayed because we were his only P4 offer and was perpetually injured. He gets set up to have 1 good year under Fran so that a few blue bloods come calling and he tried to strong arm more money out of the deal and bolted when he didn't get his way. Wasn't offered originally by those schools and wouldn't have been had he not had a career year.

 

[orangepassion]

He played 1 game as a Quarterback last year? The rest of the games he played he played WR.

Yeah, that was a mistake on my part and fixed it. However, the point of coming in as a True Freshman still applies

 

[orangepassion]

Yes. I feel that way about Trebor Pena. Gave us a lot over the years. It’s not their fault the times have changed. Someone who is here the majority of time is Orange. That is my opinion as someone who has spent years on the frontline of SU engagement.

And your opinion is totally legitimate (even though different than mine), I just don't know if the average SU fan feels the same, but who knows?

 

[PhatOrange]

Cook (if he's back) returns the most production of anyone and Tyshawn Russel returns as much production as Ross or Hornsby and Russell did it in only 3 games.