Maraad Watson transferring to Texas

[cardiac]

This one hurts. Was one of the key players that needed to be retained. This roster could be in big trouble this year. Need to make a bowl game to keep the momentum for a big 2026 season.

 

[cusefan88]

When Tennessee was involved before he signed with Cuse you knew he was a big-time get.

 

[CuseLegacy]

 

[SUFaninNJ]

This is the one I feared the most. As Ralphie said, “FUUUUUUUUUUUDGE!”

 

[PhatOrange]

That's gonna leave a mark. He good.

Shame he was headed to Kent State and Syracuse came through to put him on the map.

 

[kingtidge]

Why can't we have nice big maulies?!

 

[AAM62]

Saw this coming. He’s gonna pull a jahad Carter.

 

[CbusCuse]

Saw this coming. He’s gonna pull a jahad Carter.

Meaning what? Go to a big time program and get more money but not play?

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

 

[Orangefizz]

With our relative lack of funding we’re a mid-tier developmental program

 

[OburgCuse]

When Tennessee was involved before he signed with Cuse you knew he was a big-time get.

Yes and this was my first thought. Tennessee suddenly has much more money at its disposal now.

 

[Sdot]

With our relative lack of funding we’re a mid-tier developmental program

Fran mentioned before he believes we are top 7 in ACC, NIL wise but I don’t think that’s the case. Watson and Pena were definitely in top 3 highest paid players and both left.

 

[McNabb2Brominski]

We’re in for a looooooooong season

 

[RedtheGOB]

Can’t take it personal. Tennessee is literally paying us to play them in the opener in Atlanta. They didn’t realize a real team would be coming down south.

If they lose to a lowly ACC team that will ruin their whole season. If we win on the other hand who knows what could happen.

 

[Cuse House]

At the end of last season, this was the one player who I was hoping to retain the most. Solidifying the defensive line for several years and anchoring the D. Big time football is won in the trenches.

This one definitely hurts and we are starting to trend negatively. Of course this can all change in a week with guys coming in from the portal.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

And on top of everything he is a New Jersey kid, not great. Not great.

 

[TexanMark]

This one sounds like tampering to me...no inside info...but heir apparent true Soph starters don't usually bolt

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Oof.

 

[Trueblue25]

Hes not gone yet

 

[Cusefan69]

Hes not gone yet

Leveraging?

 

[Scooch]

This sucks.

 

[gocraz4dasu]

First one that really hurts the team long-term. Wohlabaugh and Peña will be impactful losses but Watson had the potential to be a strong player on this team for multiple more years. Sad to see him go. Time to hopefully replace him and/or upgrade, but DT is a hard spot to do that with in the portal.

The definite downside of the portal has been that the upper echelon programs (financially) will use every other program as try-outs essentially. The high performers will be offered bigger NIL deals and a majority of them will take it. Can’t really blame the players for that. But it does make it hard to get too invested in them as members of the Orange. If they play too well, they’re gone and now an opponent. While the average fans and blue blood fans love this talent consolidation at the top, it does come at the cost of the fans of the other teams. I feel like true CFB die hards don’t love it either.

At some point it will move towards contracts with the schools, but until then the ability to consistently build a strong team at one of the programs not a blue blood has become a whole lot harder. Grabbing a few guys who didn’t perform at the blue bloods won’t offset losing your high performers in most instances. Banking on getting a Kyle McCord in the portal every year isn’t sustainable. I trust Fran Brown right now, but he’s going to need to be given some leeway by the fan base because it is an uphill battle for programs at our level.

 

[Trueblue25]

Leveraging?

Confident the staff will try to counter here. This kids a hill to die on. If we do end up losing him, and they havent yet, it wont be for lack of effort

 

[Cuse House]

Hes not gone yet

Tough situation if he is trying to get more money out of this. If you are Fran, how do you tell Pena he has to go and not do the same thing with Watson?

Speculation on my part that this is money related. I would think if you want to be true to your word, you would have to let Watson go too if he is trying to renegotiate.

Just to add, I understand the value of a Sophomore All-American Defensive linemen vs a 6th year slot guy.

 

[sufan59]

Tough situation if he is trying to get more money out of this. If you are Fran, how do you tell Pena he has to go and not do the same thing with Watson?

Speculation on my part that this is money related. I would think if you want to be true to your word, you would have to let Watson go too if he is trying to renegotiate.

Pena was a captain.