Class of 2022 QB Steve Angeli (NJ) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (4/23/25)

[JoeSU]

I didn’t think we had the money to pull this off, but if we’re bringing him in for a visit, I would think we found a way to make it possible.

This guy has a strong accurate arm and has been the backup QB at ND for a couple years now. He is smart. And loyal. Jersey guy.with a lot of connections to our program. In his one start for the Irish, he threw for over 500 yards and 7 TDs.

There’s a lot to like here.

On the negative side, he is a pro style QB who is not going to be a big threat to run on RPOs. We know though that it is possible for pro style QB to succeed in our offense.

Fingers crossed.

Do you think HCFB would consider investing some of the Pena NIL that's now available?

 

[jr4750]

This is big business.

If the project required me to thread needles and a few days later I had to wear an eye patch I might begrudgingly understand, but as long as I'm still getting a pay check I don't care.

I get your analogy, and yes, it could cause some issues and might very well, but Collins is getting paid. There's always issues in locker rooms when players are competing for spots and kids don't start or get beat out.

That’s the other thing now few have brought up. Collins will still be getting paid. Way different than before. With that said, like the pros, let the best man win.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

prob need him to commit today and not take other visits? portal closes Friday

He just has to have his name in the portal by Friday. Players don’t need to commit by then.

 

[GoSU96]

Players have zero loyalty and are looking for bags. Why should Fran show any loyalty. If he can upgrade the web position then he should do it. Zero reason to
Complain about bringing in a McCord type of player. Every year the backup qb is the best player on the team. Williams was a stud everyone said. I trust Fran and if he can add a qb that will give us a chance this year then he should bring him in.

That’s an awfully broad brush.

 

[bnoro]

This guy has a strong accurate arm and has been the backup QB at ND for a couple years now. He is smart. And loyal. Jersey guy.with a lot of connections to our program. In his one start for the Irish, he threw for over 500 yards and 7 TDs.

Tom - that's his entire 2023 season, where most of his playing time was mop up duty against Tenn St, and a bowl game against Oregon State. In his one start in the bowl game, he was 15/19 for 232 yards and 3 TDs.

He also couldn't beat out Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr for the ND starting job which is slightly concerning.

 

[GoSU96]

LOVE this news. No reason to not improve the room. I'm surprised how many are willing to entrust the season to a QB who didn't even participate in the spring game. Talk about optics. Missing that showcase seems like a very bad omen. If Collins lit the spring game up we may not be having this convo but he wasn't healthy.

This is big boy football, may the best man win.

Brown isn’t choosing qb’s on how they played, or didn’t participate,in the spring game.

 

[cayugacuse]

I 100% agree. I also don’t think he should name captains until fall lol. I don’t think you should name anyone, anything publically until you have your final roster in the fall. I definitely think Fran is a players coach so I don’t think he’ll lose the locker room and not saying he will. But if you name guys captains and then they leave before the season, you name a starting QB and then you bring in another guy that could very well beat him out in the fall. Those are just ways to lose the locker room so as much as I like Fran being transparent. There are things he has to dial back. To me they are just rookie mistakes that he will learn from. This is his first ever head coaching job so obviously everything won’t be perfect

I understand your points here. One thing to consider though is we need to cut the roster down by quite a few players and we are still looking to add players at positions we are weak at. It may be fairer to the players to let them know where they stand so they can decide if they should stick around. It does suck to see kids move on after you have invested in them and they move on before they have an opportunity play or move up the depth chart.

 

[UnknownOrange]

prob need him to commit today and not take other visits? portal closes Friday

to enter* it ends friday

 

[Cuse12]

WOW. I can’t catch a breath in this portal age. I love it & I hate it.

Initial thoughts were, man… why? We got a solid QB it sounds with Collins and he names him starter. Not sure how this makes any sense for all parties involved.

Current thoughts after recent departures and state of transfer portal, Tenn shake up, etc.
I think we go all in on Angeli. I asked myself, honestly, who would I trust more game 1 in ATL against UT…. I’m going with the guy who had the weight of the world on his shoulders in the CFP and didn’t miss a step… I know I know, it was 1 drive! I don’t care, that’s almost more impressive. He has more live action against legit opponents, and proved he is above average P4 QB (albeit smaller sample size, but that sample is in fact larger then Rickie’s).

I have to put my traditional college sports fandom aside, which loved favoring the guys here already. This is BIG BOY BALL, and Al Davis said it best, just win baby win. No feelings, just facts. (Not saying be mean to players I’m saying recruit over them always.) The strong will survive. All these guys have dreams to play in NFL, if you can’t win a starting role at cuse how do you think you’ll make a 53 man roster? That’s the vibe to have and we know Fran’s got it. It may make some players leave, or despise that about him, but his job isn’t to keep people happy. It’s to keep the fans and school happy with wins.

Go get him! And let him start against UT, I truly believe he gives us the best shot at a solid year as we are playing a stacked schedule.

 

[Toga]

I agree with all of that, but when there was no deadline on naming someone the guy, no upside in doing it so early, it’s just off to me. If they hadn’t named Collins QB1 publicly I would have zero issue with this anyway. I don’t even have an issue with it now tbh I just do not like the way Fran Brown handled it and think it could’ve been done in a much better way.

Gave the #2 QB time to enter the portal?

 

[sufan59]

Johntay Cook and Steve Angeli on campus on the same day….

 

[CuseMan4]

I understand your points here. One thing to consider though is we need to cut the roster down by quite a few players and we are still looking to add players at positions we are weak at. It may be fairer to the players to let them know where they stand so they can decide if they should stick around. It does suck to see kids move on after you have invested in them and they move on before they have an opportunity play or move up the depth chart.

I don’t disagree at all with what you are saying. I’m all for being transparent with players, I understand we need to cut the roster down too. And I’m 100% all for upgrading the roster no matter the position.

My problem is you name a guy a starter publically in the spring. But then you bring in another QB who has a legit chance to start here so you have another QB battle in the fall after already naming your starter….why name a starter at any position if the roster isn’t settled you know? That’s my point. And Fran is always recruiting looking to make the roster better and he knew he was going to add players to make the roster better in the fall so why name starters and captains. It doesn’t make sense to me and I think it was a mistake by Fran. But I think he’ll learn from it. I just don’t think you can be naming captains and starters until you have your final roster. Whether you name captains and/or starters at the beginning of fall camp or end. You gotta at least wait until you have the final roster lmao

 

[Dcuse]

Didn't Fran Brown name Rickie Collins his starter for 2025. And if ever there was a man of his word..it's Fran Brown. I reckon Angeli isn't looking to sign on as a backup and also can't imagine he would be coming very cheap. So I'm struggling to grasp this one. If you're giving me a choice of bringing in the former ND backup or keeping the possible All American DT, there is no discussion. Just hard for me to see Fran suddenly telling Collins that he is now in a fight for his job after telling him " You're my man."
Anyway, welcome to current college sports.

 

[Dcuse]

I don’t disagree at all with what you are saying. I’m all for being transparent with players, I understand we need to cut the roster down too. And I’m 100% all for upgrading the roster no matter the position.

My problem is you name a guy a starter publically in the spring. But then you bring in another QB who has a legit chance to start here so you have another QB battle in the fall after already naming your starter….why name a starter at any position if the roster isn’t settled you know? That’s my point. And Fran is always recruiting looking to make the roster better and he knew he was going to add players to make the roster better in the fall so why name starters and captains. It doesn’t not make sense to me and I think it was a mistake by Fran. But I think he’ll learn from it. I just don’t think you can be naming captains and starters until you have your final roster. Whether you name captains and/or starters at the beginning of fall camp or end. You gotta at least wait until you have the final roster lmao

You're post beat mine.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Didn't Fran Brown name Rickie Collins his starter for 2025. And if ever there was a man of his word..it's Fran Brown. I reckon Angeli isn't looking to sign on as a backup and also can't imagine he would be coming very cheap. So I'm struggling to grasp this one. If you're giving me a choice of bringing in the former ND backup or keeping the possible All American DT, there is no discussion. Just hard for me to see Fran suddenly telling Collins that he is now in a fight for his job after telling him " You're my man."
Anyway, welcome to current college sports.

He’s never been a starter. Why does he think he deserves big bucks?

 

[orangenauburn]

Tom - that's his entire 2023 season, where most of his playing time was mop up duty against Tenn St, and a bowl game against Oregon State. In his one start in the bowl game, he was 15/19 for 232 yards and 3 TDs.

He also couldn't beat out Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr for the ND starting job which is slightly concerning.

Notre Dame fans are really high on CJ Carr

They are expecting big things from him

 

[kcsu]

Rickie by all accounts is a very good player but is unproven. Rickie is new to the program and has only been on campus with the team a few months, so relationships are new. From my observations most of the players hang within their position groups. Of course, they have friends on the team but at the end of the day they live and breathe with their position groups. These kids understand that this is a business. Pena left and he was here multiple years and was a captain and returning star.
Winning is what matters as winning equals exposure. Kyle didnt know any of these guys but he came in proved to be a great leader and most importantly won. Kyle being here is making the existing players lots of money. Because we won and because again of the exposure. My two cents is that it will be an open competition in the fall and best player will start. Nothing wrong with that as it is how it should be. As to naming starters. I'm sure that there is a kid on the OL that started the spring game that will be replaced by our recent LV transfer. Possibly a LB that will be replaced as well...
This is a professional game now. Winning is what matters to these kids. Winning equals money. I hope we land this kid as we immediately become a better team regardless of is he starts or not.

 

[orangepassion]

I was probably the first one to question why Fran named Collins the starter. However, if you think Angeli can be much better, don't think you have a choice. This is the most important position in sports. Having said that, he should have to beat out Collins and not be handed it on a silver platter.

 

[cayugacuse]

I don’t disagree at all with what you are saying. I’m all for being transparent with players, I understand we need to cut the roster down too. And I’m 100% all for upgrading the roster no matter the position.

My problem is you name a guy a starter publically in the spring. But then you bring in another QB who has a legit chance to start here so you have another QB battle in the fall after already naming your starter….why name a starter at any position if the roster isn’t settled you know? That’s my point. And Fran is always recruiting looking to make the roster better and he knew he was going to add players to make the roster better in the fall so why name starters and captains. It doesn’t make sense to me and I think it was a mistake by Fran. But I think he’ll learn from it. I just don’t think you can be naming captains and starters until you have your final roster. Whether you name captains and/or starters at the beginning of fall camp or end. You gotta at least wait until you have the final roster lmao

I see your point. It is a normal thing to have and announce a depth chart during or after spring ball. Perhaps Fran should have stuck with the depth chart and not named starters or captains.

 

[RF2044]

Didn't Fran Brown name Rickie Collins his starter for 2025. And if ever there was a man of his word..it's Fran Brown. I reckon Angeli isn't looking to sign on as a backup and also can't imagine he would be coming very cheap. So I'm struggling to grasp this one. If you're giving me a choice of bringing in the former ND backup or keeping the possible All American DT, there is no discussion. Just hard for me to see Fran suddenly telling Collins that he is now in a fight for his job after telling him " You're my man."
Anyway, welcome to current college sports.

Not exactly, he named him QB1 coming out of spring practice.

That's different than naming him the definitive starter for the 2025 season.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

I was probably the one to question why Fran named him the starter. However, if you think Angeli can be much better, don't think you have a choice. This is the most important position is sports. Having said that, he should have to beat out Collins and not be handed it on a silver platter.

I don't think Fran named him the starter; just QB1 in Spring ball, which doesn't mean much except that he had the upper hand on the rest of the QB room heading into fall.

A lot of hand-wringing over nothing here.

 

[Orangefan1]

I have read on here that five to six wins is the ceiling for this years team….if you have the ability to upgrade as has been said and I’m not sure if this would happen or not you absolutely take it and ask questions later

 

[sutomcat]

Tom - that's his entire 2023 season, where most of his playing time was mop up duty against Tenn St, and a bowl game against Oregon State. In his one start in the bowl game, he was 15/19 for 232 yards and 3 TDs.

He also couldn't beat out Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr for the ND starting job which is slightly concerning.

True. This web site had an awkwardly written description for his 2024 season.

Steve Angeli

fightingirish.com

Steve was considered a top 150 player in the country coming out of HS.

I love his film.

I love that Steve waited and waited for his turn to start at ND until it was evident t he was never going to get his chance to be the full time starter. It seems to me he will fit into the culture of this football program.

When he entered the portal, the staff gave him the McCord treatment.

For all these reasons, I want him. There are worst things that can happen to our program then having two really highly rated QBs fighting for the starting position this fall.

It is cool there are apparently a few highly rated players from the portal visiting right now, together. Hoping we get a bunch of good news shortly.

 

[sutomcat]

Do you think HCFB would consider investing some of the Pena NIL that's now available?

Yes. But since you asked, let’s talk about this a bit.

I heard there was a substantial amount of NIL money pledged this off season but only if McCord stayed. This is what big money people sometimes do; pledge with conditions.

I suspect the staff might have had discussions with major supporters about what could theoretically be done if players at certain positions with a certain level of skill became available in the portal.

I suspect this portal announcement might have triggered a theoretical pledge into a solid one.

I am sure Steve will have other options. But getting him to visit, and visit so fast seems to me to be a very good sign for Syracuse.

 

[AZOrange]

He will be Orange. He’s also more mobile than he gets credit for. The portal give and taketh away