Tag: Syracuse Orange

USC lands another offensive lineman in the transfer portal

USC is trying to piece together its offensive line for 2025. Here’s another addition.

Last week, USC football took a first step toward rebuilding its offensive line for 2025 with the addition of Purdue transfer DJ Wingfield. A few days later, the Trojans added another notable name to the room by securing a commitment in the transfer portal from former Syracuse offensive lineman J’Onre Reed.

Reed began his college career at community college before transferring to Syracuse ahead of the 2023 season. He started 25 games for the Orange over the past two years, and will have one season of eligibility remaining.

Adding both Reed and Wingfield is big for new USC offensive line coach Zach Hanson. The Trojans are currently set to return just two starters on the O-line next season.

Hanson is entering his first full season as USC’s offensive line coach, after spending the past three years working with the Trojans’ tight ends. He was moved from tight ends to offensive line following the departure of previous OL coach Josh Henson fo be the offensive coordinator at Purdue.

Former Georgia WR declares for NFL draft after breakout season

Former Georgia wide receiver finished the 2024 college football season second-leading leading receiver in the ACC

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Jackson Meeks has declared for the 2025 NFL draft after a breakout season with the Syracuse Orange. Meeks finished the 2024 college football season as the No. 2 leading receiver in the ACC (as of Dec. 31).

Meeks, who transferred to Syracuse after the 2023 college football season, was one of three ACC receivers who recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards. Meeks helped Syracuse go 10-3. The former Georgia receiver finished 2024 with a career-best 78 receptions for 1,021 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Meeks was a major part of the Orange’s elite passing game.

The Syracuse receiver helped his NFL draft stock significantly with his senior season. Meeks took the time to thank Georgia and Syracuse in a letter in which he announced his decision to declare for the NFL draft.

“Coach (Kirby) Smart. You taught me patience and resilience that has been invaluable. You have shown me that success is not just about talent, it’s about perseverance and effort in the face of adversity,” Meeks said.

“Those lessons have shaped not only my approach to the game but to life itself. Thank you for pushing me beyond my limits and instilling a sense of perseverance that I will carry with me for a lifetime,” continued Meeks.

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Syracuse beat Washington State in the Holiday Bowl to cap an excellent first season under coach Fran Brown, a former Georgia defensive backs coach. It is clear Meeks and other Syracuse players love playing for Brown.

Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord now holds ACC single season records

McCord stands alone in the ACC record books #GoBucks

Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord put on a show in Friday night’s 52-35 Holiday Bowl win over Washington State. The former Buckeye threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns in the Syracuse victory.

But McCord did something even more noteworthy in the game. He now stands atop the ACC with the most single-season passing yards and completions in conference history. McCord passed Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, who passed for 4,593 yards on 388 completions in 2016. By the end of the Holiday Bowl, McCord finished his season in Orange with 4,779 yards on 391 completions, landing him on the top of the ACC passing list.

It should also be noted that Watson’s record came in 15 games played, whereas McCord broke the record in just 13 games. In those 13 games, McCord surpassed 300 yards in all but one contest.

Before the so-called experts jump the gun and question whether Ohio State should’ve let McCord walk, Will Howard had an exceptional season in Scarlet and Gray as well, throwing for 3,171 and 29 touchdowns on 250 fewer passing attempts. Both young men excelled in their new homes and were probably right where they needed to be.

It should also be mentioned that the single-season passing leaders in the Big Ten, ACC, and SEC all started their careers in Columbus with the Buckeyes. Dwayne Haskins stands at the top of the Big Ten with 4,831 yards in 2018. Joe Burrow has the SEC record with 5,671 in his second season with LSU in 2019. And, of course, the aforementioned McCord in the ACC.

Congratulations to Kyle McCord on his record-breaking performance. Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.

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Alabama transfer offensive lineman commits to ACC program

The Alabama offensive lineman has made a decision.

The latest Alabama Crimson Tide transfer portal entrant to make a decision did so Tuesday afternoon, as offensive lineman Naquil Betrand announced his commitment to play for the Syracuse Orange in 2025.

Betrand was a former transfer from the Texas A&M Aggies last offseason to Alabama, but did not see much playing time in Tuscaloosa prior to entering the transfer portal earlier this month. The offensive lineman primarily served as a backup during his lone season at Alabama.

Taking a look at Alabama in the transfer portal as well, Betrand is now the sixth Crimson Tide player to announce a playing destination for 2025. Now committed to Syracuse as well, Betrand is the first Alabama transfer from this cycle now set to play for an ACC team in 2025.

RELATED: Alabama football 2024-25 offseason transfer portal tracker

Betrand was one-of-two Alabama offensive lineman in the transfer portal, joined by Miles McVay. McVay has yet to make a commitment decision.

Notre Dame men’s basketball defeats Syracuse, ending its losing streak

The losing slide has been stopped for the Irish

It was a much needed win for Notre Dame men’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon, as they defeated Syracuse 69-64 in Purcell Pavilion.

The Irish saw three players score in double-digits, [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Braeden Schrewsberry[/autotag] and [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag], with Davis pacing the group with 15-points.

Defensively, Notre Dame didn’t allow a three pointer made by the Orange, although they only attempted just 7 shots from that range. The Irish won the rebounding battle as well, 25-22. They are still having issues with their turnover-to-assist ratio, which saw they give the ball up 12 times to just 5 assists on the game.

Notre Dame ended a five-game losing streak, as they have shown to be extremely streaky this season. They won their first four games, followed by the losing streak, so the hope is that they’ll start another winning streak after this one.

The Irish’s season record now sits at 5-5 with a date with Dartmouth next on Dec. 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET at home.

Notre Dame guard J.R. Konieczny dunks the ball during a NCAA men’s basketball game against Syracuse at Purcell Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

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Husker linebacker Stefon Thompson enters transfer portal

The Husker linebacker appeared in 11 games in the 2024 regular season, recording 27 tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

With the regular season ending and the postseason lingering, some Nebraska players already plan to enter the transfer portal. Linebacker Stefon Thompson joined the group Monday.

Thompson arrived at Nebraska after transferring from the Syracuse Orange last year. He appeared in 11 games in the 2024 regular season, recording 27 tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

Prior to Nebraska, he played three seasons with the Orange and missed most of the 2022 season. He averaged over 55 tackles across those three seasons. Thompson now enters the portal along with a few other Nebraska players, including defensive lineman Vincent Jackson.

This comes after it was announced that Nebraska’s defensive coordinator, Tony White, left Nebraska to become the defensive coordinator of the Florida State Seminoles. There is no word on whether or not this affected Thompson’s decision.

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Former Georgia assistant thanks Kirby Smart after massive upset win

Former Georgia assistant thanks Kirby Smart after major upset win

Former Georgia Bulldog defensive backs coach Fran Brown has done great work in revitalizing the Syracuse football program. Brown improved the Orange’s record from 6-7 in 2023 to 9-3 in 2024, earning a top 25 spot and a solid bowl game in his first year on the job.

The Orange boast one of the best offenses in the ACC led by former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and former Georgia wide receiver Jackson Meeks.

Syracuse’s biggest win of the season came in rivalry week, when the Syracuse Orange defeated the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes 42-38. Syracuse was down 21-0 at one point, but the Orange rallied to knock the Hurricanes out of the ACC championship matchup and potentially the College Football Playoff.

Fran Brown gave his old boss Kirby Smart a shoutout after the win: “Hey Kirby Smart, thank you for that message earlier, Kirby. Means so much to me, Coach Smart. I appreciate you, I love you. Thank you,” Brown said.

Syracuse overcomes 21-0 deficit to shock Miami

Kyle McCord and Syracuse rallied to shock Miami

Kyle McCord was Ohio State’s quarterback last season. He’s thrilled to be Syracuse’s signal-caller in 2024.

On a day the Buckeyes lost to Michigan for the fourth straight season, McCord led the Orange to a 42-38 upset of Miami in ACC play on Saturday.

The Hurricanes, who led 21-0, are now at the mercy of the CFP Committee. A win would have earned Miami a sport in the ACC Championship Game against SMU.

Instead, the Hurricanes are done until a bowl game or CFP invite while Clemson plays the Mustangs for the ACC Championship.

McCord threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns against Heisman candidate Cam Ward, who threw for 349 and two TDs.

Syracuse scored 35 points total in the third and fourth quarters.

With the game tied at 35, LeQuint Allen scored on a three-yard run with 9:16 left to make it 42-35.

Mario Cristobal opted for a field goal with 3:42 left to bring the Hurricanes within four but that was as close as the Hurricanes could get.

Georgia transfer ranks among ACC’s top receivers

Former Georgia wide receiver, who is now with Syracuse, is the No. 6 leading receiver in the ACC

Former Georgia Bulldog Jackson Meeks is turning heads with the Syracuse Orange.  Meeks is the No. 6 leading receiver in the ACC with two games left in the regular season.

Meeks has 59 receptions for 691 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season. Amazingly, Meeks is the third leading receiver on Syracuse. The Orange have three of the ACC’s top six leading receivers. Meeks has been a reliable target throughout the season and has helped his NFL draft stock significantly.

Syracuse is a surprising 7-3 under former Georgia Bulldogs defensive backs coach Fran Brown, and a big reason for that is Meeks and the offense. Meeks transferred from Georgia to Syracuse last spring along with fellow receiver Zeed Haynes, who has eight receptions for 97 yards this season.

Brown has done wonders for the Orange and could be a candidate to land a major Power Four job after this season if he does not sign a contract extension.

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Syracuse hosts UConn and Miami over the final two weeks of the season. The Orange will finish with one of their best seasons in recent memory if they’re able to win out.

Pitt scores three pick-sixes en route to 31-0 halftime lead over Syracuse

Pitt destroyed Syracuse in the first half with a trio of pick-sixes

The Pitt Panthers were doing their best to convince anyone and everyone they are for real.

In the first half on Thursday against Syracuse, the Panthers scored three defensive touchdowns on the way to a 31-0 lead in an ACC contest.

Kent McCord, the Orange QB who transferred from Ohio State had the nightmare of nightamres in the first 30 minutes. He was 16-of-34 for 130 yards with four picks before the break.