Running backs coach Dennis Thomas spoke to the media following Friday's practice. The Orange are nearing the beginning of the season a week from Saturday.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Over the past few months, one of the lingering questions that fans and media members have had about this season's Syracuse Orange football team is: What players will be the key contributors at the running back position?
After all, the Orange lost projected starter Yasin Willis (Kansas) to the transfer portal.
And while the program added exciting players like Ahmad Miller (Jackson State) and Ju'Juan Johnson (LSU) via the portal, it's still unclear who the lead back will be with just one week to go until the season opener.
Running backs coach Dennis Thomas spoke to the media following Friday's practice, and he declined to provide much with regards to the depth chart.
"We don't have that solidified yet. But what I can tell you is the guys are working hard.."
The Dennis Thomas file
Thomas begins his first season as the team's running backs coach. He spent the previous two seasons as the team's quality control duties coach. He joined the program in 2023 after one year at Rutgers (2022). He was the head coach at Millville High School (New Jersey) for seven years before Rutgers.
That's the same high school that produced Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout.
How did Syracuse running backs perform in 2025?
Syracuse's rushing attack was something that needed to be improved this offseason. The Orange ranked 13th out of 17 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in rushing yards, totaling under 1,500 yards. The team's 11 touchdowns ranked as the second-fewest in the ACC.
What could Syracuse's running back system look like this season?
In addition to Miller and Johnson, Malachi Coleman and Tylik Hill could see time in the offense as well. Coleman found the endzone late in April's spring game. Hill will enter the season as the running back who returns with the most yards from last season. Hill posted 133 yards on 24 carries.
Thomas spoke highly of Hill on Friday:
"Tylik is a shifty back. He has good speed. Deceptive speed.... I think he will do extremely well once he gets into the game"
When will Orange fans find out more?
College football teams typically release a depth chart during each game week, though before Week 1, teams tend to be more secretive.
It's quite possible that there is no official depth chart until almost right before the start of the season, which is next Saturday at noon ET against New Hampshire.
