Braden Atkinson is set to visit the Orange.
UPDATE, Jan. 7, 2:45 P.M. ET: According to Pete Nakos of On3, Atkinson is set to visit Syracuse. It appears he's already visited Notre Dame.
Jan. 6, AM:
Later this week, the Syracuse University football program will get an on-campus visit from highly-touted Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens, who is in the transfer portal.
However, Dickens isn't the only FCS quarterback that the Orange have interest in. Pete Nakos of On3 reports that they are also showing interest in Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson.
Per Nakos on social media:
Mercer QB Braden Atkinson is drawing interest from Notre Dame, Syracuse, Baylor, Boston College and Cal, his rep @gsheen23 of @AiC_Athletes tells @On3sports. He totaled 3,611 passing yards and 34 TDs in 2025. Also won the Jerry Rice Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding freshman in FCS.
Because he played as a freshman this year, Atkinson will have three years left of eligibility, making him coveted in the portal. He's listed at 6'1 and 215 pounds and hails from Rolesville, N.C.
Why Syracuse would be a hard sell
I've got to be honest, and I said the same thing about Dickens a few days ago: What's the appeal in these quarterbacks coming to Syracuse?
Steve Angeli is slated to come back and be the starting quarterback in 2026. Even if Dickens or Atkinson have a chance to win the job over the summer and in preseason, it's not a guarantee.
If you're a player who is transferring, don't you want to go to a place where you can play right away? Does Atkinson, or anyone else, really want to come to Syracuse and have to sit? Or have to compete for the job? I'm sure there are ample FBS programs that will give Atkinson a starting job on day one, and if that program is slightly lower-caliber than Syracuse? Then, you play well and you transfer again next year. That's the nature of the beast.
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What Syracuse is clearly doing
After Angeli's season-ending injury in 2025, the Orange lost eight straight games to finish 3-9. Fran Brown's team was underprepared at quarterback for an injury like that, and he's clearly trying to make sure his depth chart is in order for the future. It's the right thing to do, but all the same questions I asked above apply. How can you be prepared at the QB position if the experienced players you covet don't want to come and wait for their opportunity?
Also on campus
The Syracuse men's basketball team will take on Georgia Tech on Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET) in Atlanta. SU is 9-5 and 0-1 in ACC play. The Yellow Jackets are 10-5 and 1-1.
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