Marcellus Barnes transferring to SMU

[Bulldog04]

This offseason isn’t not going anything like last years

Agree. Kinda feels like the year after dungey won 10 games and there was zero roster momentum going into the next year. Little too quiet for me

 

[kingtidge]

He gone get bag.

 

[Acesn8s]

Admitting we will not be able to get the top transfers due to NIL funding differences isn't making an excuse, it's a legitimate reason. Of course you still try, and you make a case to a kid that money isn't everything, but calling something an excuse that has legitimacy is already setting things up to throw coaches under the bus.

I love this coaching staff, so I don’t want that fact to be missed, and I hate living in hypotheticals but in 3 years if we started to have similar results as we did with Dino, 95 percent of the people on this board would be saying “well we know we can’t get top transfers” we would be calling for their termination. Again let’s just see how it plays out, but next season will be brutal if we don’t bolster this defense.

 

[kingtidge]

Agree. Kinda feels like the year after dungey won 10 games and there was zero roster momentum going into the next year. Little too quiet for me

Have a feeling given the 2025 schedule and funds limitations, Fran and Co maybe consolidating for 2026

 

[kcsu]

He said he was going to build through HS ranks. I'm sure he is using the vast majority of money on retention.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

It is evident, and they signed up for the job knowing what they were getting into, I would never disparage this coaching staff, but the “awww shucks we lost another one because of NIL” isn’t going to be a built in excuse every year.

Excuse for who? There are excuses that there is reality, whether you accept it as real that’s up to you. Don’t know what else to say. Personally, I don’t think the NIL coffers even with Fran are as robust as many seem to think. Are they better under Fran? Sure they are but not my point

You have 3 of the best recruiters in all of college football coming off a 10 win season. Not sure what else it could be

 

[OCESIP]

Just like Carmello, this year's football success was built around
one dominant player. That player ended up here because of a personal
connection. You just don't have that luxury year in and year out.

Syracuse is a mid level, average program in the universe of college
athletics. That's not a knock on SU, it's athletes, it's coaches, and it's
administration. We will over achieve at times, and under achieve at
others. As long as they are competitive and put forth a decent effort
the fan base should be there to enjoy and support them.

 

[Acesn8s]

Excuse for who? There are excuses that there is reality, whether you accept it as real that’s up to you. Don’t know what else to say. Personally, I don’t think the NIL coffers even with Fran are as robust as many seem to think. Are they better under Fran? Sure they are but not my point

You have 3 of the best recruiters in all of college football coming off a 10 win season. Not sure what else it could be

Ok? So under your statement then short of a scandal which would never happen with Fran, these coaches could never be fired because they are always going to be at a disadvantage. Listen once again let’s just see what happens, they just won 10 games, but the fact is as of today we have not signed a meaningful defensive player.

 

[sufandu]

I love this coaching staff, so I don’t want that fact to be missed, and I hate living in hypotheticals but in 3 years if we started to have similar results as we did with Dino, 95 percent of the people on this board would be saying “well we know we can’t get top transfers” we would be calling for their termination. Again let’s just see how it plays out, but next season will be brutal if we don’t bolster this defense.

Well then why even throw out the 'E' word and welcome all the negative connotations that come with it in Fran's first full off season?

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

A few quick questions
Who left who you really wanted to keep?
Barnes? Yes but he isn’t a perfect player. Absolutely awful in run defense,
How many years do people think last years freshman are willing to sit. There are good players in that class. They won’t sit two years at SU I can guarantee that.
They’re is still a need at linebacker for sure. Syracuse struck out on their main three targets. If that can be fixed in the spring portal then I am not down on this off season. Next years schedule is rough. Without Kyle a 6-6 season would be a huge accomplishment. Play the young guys see who is for real then hit the portal after next year.

 

[upperdeck]

D is hard if you dont have bodies on the dline. if you have players thats even better, but last year we didnt even have the bodies

DB you need athletes. Maybe they make mistakes, but we have way more athletes there than we have had. Even last year we had options and we needed it as people got dinged up. In the past we had decent 1s and maybe a 2 but no depth after that.

LB, yeah better players help, but you can scheme around some of the issues with down and distance if you at least have guys who can run.. When you are small and slow thats really hard. I think we are getting bigger and faster even if they have flaws.

we lost the BC game because we lacked DL bodies to fix the simple power plays. We get our 2 deep back and we probably don't lose that game.

 

[richmondcuse03]

A few quick questions
Who left who you really wanted to keep?
Barnes? Yes but he isn’t a perfect player. Absolutely awful in run defense,
How many years do people think last years freshman are willing to sit. There are good players in that class. They won’t sit two years at SU I can guarantee that.
They’re is still a need at linebacker for sure. Syracuse struck out on their main three targets. If that can be fixed in the spring portal then I am not down on this off season. Next years schedule is rough. Without Kyle a 6-6 season would be a huge accomplishment. Play the young guys see who is for real then hit the portal after next year.

I think kerr's emergence also made barnes expendable. We would have loved Marcellus back. But I'm pretty sure Barnes wanted a commitment he would start and he didn't get it. Fran wants guys who will compete. Nothing is given to you.

I'm concerned we haven't added anyone at LB yet but hopefully we'll get surprises before the 21st (which is the real deadline given enrollment period). If we don't then, we will have to add in the spring portal, which I know guys think there aren't great guys that tend to portal then...but usually the ones that do know exactly where they're going and have been convinced to do so.

 

[upperdeck]

There will be some guys who can play in the spring looking when the big boys figure things out. There always is.

 

[orangemass]

He gone get bag.

Texas tea bag

 

[Acesn8s]

Well then why even throw out the 'E' word and welcome all the negative connotations that come with it in Fran's first full off season?

I could have a response, but let’s just see what happens, and it’s my personal hope we use all the NIl dollars we do have access to, in order to build a competitive roster for next year especially on Defense, I am not expecting a playoff, but I fear our defense we have as of today would lead us to a blood bath of a season next year. I will be in Atlanta even if we don’t sign another player and l will hope for the best.

 

[Biaxtar]

He said he was going to build through HS ranks. I'm sure he is using the vast majority of money on retention.

While I think building through high school is great, my only concern is that Fran might be used to the freshman talent at Georgia as a barometer for how freshman should preform year 1. But If I’m wrong, I will gladly eat crow.

 

[sufandu]

While I think building through high school is great, my only concern is that Fran might be used to the freshman talent at Georgia as a barometer for how freshman should preform year 1. But If I’m wrong, I will gladly eat crow.

I don't think he is oblivious to the differences between there and here. Georgia wasn't his first job and he was only there for two years. He was considered an elite recruiter before going there, it's what got his the job. He knows how to evaluate talent.

 

[Cusefan69]

This offseason we lost Barnes (talented but injuries) and Reed (who some are saying is not a big loss and that we have options on the depth chart). I mean if that's it then that's minimal in regards to portal loss.
We reloaded in the recruiting class with DBs and signed a big center. We also brought in great talent last year. Also EVERY school SEC, BIG, ACC lose guys in the portal and definitely worse than we have. Next guys up. I think overall young talent is up on the team. Our freshman and sophomores are bigger, taller and faster as a group. Our Sophs/Juniors/Seniors going into next season and will have had 2 full S&C cycles with the new staff. So I think our ability to replace from within is better now than previously.
Definitely agree LB would be nice to add a guy. Retaining Sparrow was big. Definitely think we add to the defense during Spring portal.

 

[anomander]

He said he was going to build through HS ranks. I'm sure he is using the vast majority of money on retention.

Who other than Peña?

 

[anomander]

I think kerr's emergence also made barnes expendable. We would have loved Marcellus back. But I'm pretty sure Barnes wanted a commitment he would start and he didn't get it. Fran wants guys who will compete. Nothing is given to you.

I'm concerned we haven't added anyone at LB yet but hopefully we'll get surprises before the 21st (which is the real deadline given enrollment period). If we don't then, we will have to add in the spring portal, which I know guys think there aren't great guys that tend to portal then...but usually the ones that do know exactly where they're going and have been convinced to do so.

I’m not sure why Barnes would want a guaranteed starting job? He seemed to be the #1 corner and starter right away. Kerr didn’t away. Worst case they both would have started. That doesn’t seem like the reason he would have left.

 

[RMH44]

This offseason isn’t not going anything like last years

As planned, per HCFB

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

I’m not sure why Barnes would want a guaranteed starting job? He seemed to be the #1 corner and starter right away. Kerr didn’t away. Worst case they both would have started. That doesn’t seem like the reason he would have left.

Barnes wanted a raise. That’s ok. I have left nice jobs because I wanted more money. I am not mad at him. I hope he is the corner on a Willis outside run though. Good luck