The Orange took to the practice field Friday for the first time. Coming off a 3-9 season in 2025, SU is looking to be deeper and more competitive in the middling ACC.
The Syracuse University football program hit the practice field for the first time this spring on Friday, giving fans and coaches an early look at the team as it starts its 2026 journey.
Syracuse finished the 2025 campaign at 3-9 and is looking to make a drastic improvement inside the ACC.
Here's what you need to know.
Top spring story No. 1: Bouncing back
After starting the 2025 season 3-1, quarterback Steve Angeli's season-ending Achilles injury was followed by eight straight losses. Will Angeli's presence be enough to guide the team to a more successful season in 2026?
Angeli finished the 2025 season with 1,317 passing yards, 10 touchdown and two interceptions.
Earlier this spring, Angeli was highlighted by ESPN in its preseason ranking of Power 4 quarterbacks across the country. He was on the practice field in limited capacity as he works back.
If he's unable to get back to his prior form, or gets hurt again, do the Orange have the depth to overcome like they couldn't in 2025? Syracuse went out of its way to improve on that front, bringing in three quarterbacks from the transfer portal.
Amari Odom of Kennesaw State and Danny Lauter of Georgetown both have starting experience, as does former top quarterback recruit Malachi Nelson, who is also in the fold.
Top spring story No. 2: The pass catchers
The Orange struggled to continue to find consistency in the passing game last season, but is that attributed to the wide receiver and tight end rooms themselves, or was it because of the quarterback problems after Angeli got hurt?
In 2024, Syracuse's offense featured pass catchers like Oronde Gadsden II and LeQuint Allen. Gadsden's hybrid tight end/wide receiver style skillset earned him a spot on the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers. Allen's ability to catch out of the backfield as a running back helped him gain a role as part of the Jacksonville Jaguars backfield.
Syracuse Orange tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs with the ball after a catch against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Rich Barnes-Imagn ImagesNot only did the losses of Gadsden and Allen slow the offense, but Jackson Meeks, who led the Orange in receiving yards in 2024, joined the Detroit Lions. Those three departures, plus the transfer of Trebor Pena, certainly impacted SU.
And there's been turnover once again this year. Standouts Darrell Gill Jr. and Jontay Cook are both gone via the transfer portal, forcing SU to lean on newcomers Elijah Moore from Florida State and Cole Weaver from Miami of Ohio. Freshman Calvin Russell is also one of the top recruits in the country.
How spring football practice works
According to the NCAA's website,
- Practices can be conducted over a 34-day period with 20 hours per week of unrestricted activities. Players must receive one day off per week.
- 15 on-field practice sessions may be held, with no more than 12 involving contact.
- Full contact may not occur until the third practice.
- Eight of the 12 contact practices can involve tackling, and no more than three of those eight may be devoted to 11-on-11 scrimmages.
- During noncontact practice sessions, headgear may be worn.
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