Yasin Willis transferring to Kansas

[Franz69]

You lose half your team every offseason to graduation and the portal. That's life. That's why having an elite recruiter like Fran is so important these days. He gets two swings at the pinata. One swing for the high school kids, one for the portal.

 

[23Zone]

Portal giveth portal taketh

 

[Archbold44]

at 235 pounds never really moved the pile never kept his legs moving and never saw obvious un frequent holes. Add to that concrete hands.

For some reason, I was just watching the SMU game. Willis had a few runs where he was keeping his legs moving. And then run where he leaped over the guy for a first down. Hard to believe that the offense that looked halfway decent on Drive 1 would pretty much never look good again.

 

[JeffCuse]

One reason this concerns me is I just dont think Nixon is particularly good. If he is RB 1 by default its a major problem.

 

[Eric15]

I'm emotionally numb to any literally player entering the portal at this point. I just say "oh well" and move on.

It is what it is. The system gave us Kyle McCord.

 

[shu 49]

What are the chances we upgrade via the portal?

I did not like what we had last year and coming back next year at RB with him. Now it is even worse. I guess we are playing 5 WRs at a time now.

I hate him leaving cause I thought we could have a power and zoner but Hill has real potential.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

This is the more concerning thing to me.

From 2024 and one so far from 2025. He’ll continue to recruit talented players — that part doesn’t concern me. Some of these guys just didn’t pan out. I think Willis would have, though.

 

[David321]

Extremely disappointing. I had really high hopes for him going forward.

 

[dasher]

I don't think that is it at all.

 

[Archbold44]

I don't think that is it at all.

Care to elaborate?

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I hate him leaving cause I thought we could have a power and zoner but Hill has real potential.

I liked what I saw from Hill, but don't see him as a primary back. It would have been nice to have him as a complimentary piece to Willis.

All of our RBs are small now. Might be by design.

IMO we need more balance in our play calls. When Nixon mixes it up we look unstoppable. It will be harder to have a solid run game now and to keep a D honest.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

From 2024 and one so far from 2025. He’ll continue to recruit talented players — that part doesn’t concern me. Some of these guys just didn’t pan out. I think Willis would have, though.

When you look at this list the retention rate isn't great. https://247sports.com/college/syracuse/sport/football/alltimerecruits/

 

[dasher]

Care to elaborate?

Not on an open board. But if people think as I have read here, that Willis didn't like this or that and decided to leave, they would be wrong. Just remember, he just told Ashley he was coming back.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

When you look at this list the retention rate isn't great. Syracuse All Time Football Recruits

To be fair, stars don’t matter — it’s about what you do on the field. The two wide receivers who left didn’t really produce, but Willis did, and I wish he would stay. Like Curt Cignetti says, it’s production over potential, and that’s something I think Fran needs to embrace.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

No way that Fran gave him “The Talk”? I hope he didn’t

 

[CA Monk]

^^This^^!!! So glad I was around to witness the late 80’s and 90’s. You could follow the the team and the players every year through their career and identify with them. Not any more. Hate what college football has become.
Just cheering or the jersey now, and whoever is in it

Fran is the team. He's the only constant. I'll rally around Angeli if he makes it back, but it's so mercenary now. I'm gonna hafta find a way for my prehistoric CFB fandom matrix to fit into an ugly 2026 CFB landscape. Not sure it can happen. Fran is the key. Can he be that adaptable with the resources he has. We're a long way from Pasqualoni and DeLeone burning the midnight oil.

 

[dasher]

No way that Fran gave him “The Talk”? I hope he didn’t

Do you ever consider that you don't know what you don't know?

 

[orangefog]

Do you ever consider that you don't know what you don't know?

 

[djorange1989]

Richmond said this was not a money matter.

Yep and he gave the thumbs up on a post that suggested culture fit. So, people need to pay attention to that

 

[orangefog]

Yep and he gave the thumbs up on a post that suggested culture fit. So, people need to pay attention to that

That sounds like a lot of work.

 

[shu 49]

The sad part is our Offensive line did open up some lanes. Nixon and Tylik had some big runs because of those holes. My seats are in the end zone and the amount of times I saw Yasin just run straight into our Olineman, instead of side stepping and running through the hole that was right next to him was maddening. RBs are replaceable.

I know I had him pegged for way more yardage. I see it when he runs short yardage and how I didn’t notice it last year I don’t get. He has to keep his damn head up. Ya know when u make a call and it wasn’t right well he was mine. Truly thought he would be a top pick someday and he still could be if he looks at where the heck he is going.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Yep and he gave the thumbs up on a post that suggested culture fit. So, people need to pay attention to that

That’s concerning that it was a culture fit. Is the standard at Cuse to low?

 

[shu 49]

It is a big loss, it’s stupid to not to see that. Yasin has all the potential in the world to be an All American (yes I think that highly of his potential) running back as long as he stays healthy, plays smart, and has good blocking. For us, it’s also an opportunity for a big gain in the portal.

I thought so too. I’m pretty sure I guaranteed it would be 1000 back.

 

[dasher]

That’s concerning that it was a culture fit. Is the standard at Cuse to low?

Do you mean too high? How would it be too low?

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Do you mean too high? How would it be too low?

What he said back in November about coming in and getting guys ready to perform at a level they weren’t at last offseason.