Will Nixon to NFL Draft

[OrangeFreek]

How does that Nixon to Nixon conversation work? "Son, I love you and always will. I think the best chance of you going pro is if I rock it next year, get hired as an NFL offensive coordinator, and then sign you. So... long story short... we have some portal options..."

my guess is it was Fran to Nixon to Nixon...

 

[GoSU96]

Well that is odd

 

[orangepassion]

Wow. Steve will be making a lot of new friends.

 

[orangenauburn]

We got portal news today in case people missed

 

[721Comstock]

Wow. Steve will be making a lot of new friends.

Fewer than last year.

Literally everything and everyone was new to him last year.

 

[Archbold44]

my guess is it was Fran to Nixon to Nixon...

"Can you let your Dad know we had this little talk too? Kind of jammed up at the moment."

 

[anomander]

Hard to believe really. He's not a pro

Not even close.

 

[djorange1989]

Obviously he isn’t an NFL guy, look at the excellent guys we had from the 2025 draft who went really late or didn’t get drafted at all. I figured he didn’t get the waiver but he did, so guessing he was encouraged to go

 

[PhatOrange]

Obviously he isn’t an NFL guy, look at the excellent guys we had from the 2024 draft who went really late or didn’t get drafted at all. I figured he didn’t get the waiver but he did, so guessing he was encouraged to go

Encouraged to go by his own Dad?

 

[djorange1989]

Interesting That Payton Lewis jumped into the portal shortly after that announcement

Good call let’s hope it isn’t a coincidence

 

[CA Monk]

Headline should read:
Nixon Chooses to Make No Money in the NFL, Rather than Some Money in College

 

[djorange1989]

Encouraged to go by his own Dad?

Fran is the head coach not Nixon

 

[tep624]

The NFL is going to be a major uphill climb for him - this probably has more to do with available carries for him next year than anything. Otherwise really doesn’t make any sense.

 

[sufan59]

Nixon might actually find a role in the NFL, it wouldn't shock me. My guess is we probably have another running back to fill his spot. If the NFL doesn't work out, perhaps he gets into coaching like his dad. He's a solid running back.

 

[sufan59]

The NFL is going to be a major uphill climb for him - this probably has more to do with available carries for him next year than anything. Otherwise really doesn’t make any sense.

Well he isn't going into the portal

 

[Fan Always]

Will declaring for the draft surprises me. Not sure why anything with SU football should surprise me?!

 

[IraSez]

Dude...I mean we are replacing A LOT of pieces.

With over 35% of all players in the portal, so is everyone else.

 

[CbusCuse]

With over 35% of all players in the portal, so is everyone else.

Curious to know where you got that 35% number from? Its hard to know how many guys are in the portal from other teams. Even the 247 portal tracker for SU only shows 13 outgoing for SU but there are at least another 15 players not included on that list.

Syracuse Orange 2026 College Football Transfer Portal Latest Activity

Also portaling but not listed:
Delaine
Josh Miller
Hart
Carney
Haile
Martin
E. Ross
Jakhari Williams
Hornsby
Fatim Diggs
Chase Simmons
Caden Brown
Ibn McDaniels
Malachi James
Jayden Oh

 

[upperdeck]

does declaring mean you have to leave or does it give you access to NFL stuff to see where you stand like bb does it?

 

[IraSez]

Curious to know where you got that 35% number from? Its hard to know how many guys are in the portal from other teams. Even the 247 portal tracker for SU only shows 13 outgoing for SU but there are at least another 15 players not included on that list.

Syracuse Orange 2026 College Football Transfer Portal Latest Activity

Also portaling but not listed:
Delaine
Josh Miller
Hart
Carney
Haile
Martin
E. Ross
Jakhari Williams
Hornsby
Fatim Diggs
Chase Simmons
Caden Brown
Ibn McDaniels
Malachi James
Jayden Oh

On the first day, DraftKings was reporting 31.5% of all FBS players were in the portal. CBS Sports was reporting 3700 players at the same time. That number is now well over 4000 with some outlets reporting it's actually closer to 4500. Freshman MATH101 at SU will tell you that's over 35%. It totally sucks but that's the new reality of college athletics. STOP THE INSANITY!

 

[shu 49]

The NFL is going to be a major uphill climb for him - this probably has more to do with available carries for him next year than anything. Otherwise really doesn’t make any sense.

How could u think I’m gonna get less carries at Cuse I will try pros. I ain’t brilliant but this doesn’t make sense. Stay make 100,000 k and move on next year.

 

[Chip]

Fran is the head coach not Nixon

I know this is a business now more than ever, but I don't think Fran would just run off the OC's son without the OC being asked about it.

That said, this one is really weird. Wanted the waiver, got the waiver, then declares when he's basically on no one's radar. And it seems weird that we'd run off a 6th year RB. He may not be the most dynamic runner, but there would be some much needed leadership on a team and in a position room full of underclassmen.

 

[newmexicuse]

He wont get drafted.

 

[tep624]

How could u think I’m gonna get less carries at Cuse I will try pros. I ain’t brilliant but this doesn’t make sense. Stay make 100,000 k and move on next year.

He’s probably at the point where he’d rather try his luck at the pros, however small that is, and move on with his life than play another year of college ball, if he’s going to be a limited use player. I’d have to assume some conversation with the staff spurred this. Why else would you seek a waiver, get it and then declare for the pros when you’re not getting drafted?

Also Fran had commented that he wasn’t even aware Nixon was seeking a waiver which was odd at the time.

 

[PhatOrange]

Fran is the head coach not Nixon

lol come on. If he got the waiver and then giving him the talk makes zero sense. The list is long why it makes no sense.