Former Notre Dame QB Steve Angeli transfers to Syracuse
Steve Angeli's transfer from Notre Dame adds to a quarterback room that includes Rickie Collins, Jakhari Williams, Rich Belin and Luke Carney. Courtesy of Mike Miller, Blue & Gold Illustrated
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Former Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli is transferring to Syracuse, he announced on social media Wednesday. Angeli threw for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception in three seasons with the Fighting Irish before entering the transfer portal on Thursday.
He joins an SU quarterback room headlined by LSU transfer Rickie Collins, who head coach Fran Brown announced as the Orange’s starter on April 8. This all comes on the heels of Kyle McCord declaring for the NFL Draft after leading Syracuse to 10 wins and leading the country with 4,779 passing yards. Collins, a former four-star class of 2023 recruit, sat behind Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier across his two seasons in Baton Rouge before entering the portal.
“We’re gonna pick a quarterback,” Brown said on March 21. “We’re gonna run with it. We gonna compete for two and three. He gonna be the guy until we say he’s not.”
Angeli, a former three-star class of 2022 recruit, hails from Westfield, New Jersey, and played at Bergen Catholic High School (New Jersey). There, he was coached by Vito Campanile, SU quarterbacks coach Nunzio Campanile’s brother.
“(A lot of quarterbacks) kind of want the guaranteed deal, and I understand. You get one career. His willingness to compete, I thought that kind of set him apart,” Nunzio said on April 4 of what stood out about Collins during the recruitment process.
Upon arriving at Notre Dame in 2022, Angeli didn’t attempt a pass while sitting behind Drew Pyne. After the season, ND added Wake Forest graduate student Sam Hartman from the portal. Across Hartman’s sixth collegiate season in 2023, Angeli backed him up but made his first career start against Oregon State in the Sun Bowl. The signal caller completed 15-of-19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 40-8 win.
While Hartman graduated, the Fighting Irish again utilized the portal to bring in Duke transfer Riley Leonard for his final year of eligibility. With Leonard under center, Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff title game, where it fell to Ohio State.
Angeli mostly played in garbage time throughout the campaign but rose to the occasion against Penn State in the College Football Playoff Semifinal when Leonard was briefly sidelined with an injury. At the end of the first half, Angeli completed 6-of-7 passes for 44 yards, which led to a field goal before halftime. That kick was the difference in ND’s eventual 27-24 win, with Leonard playing the entire second half.
Though the Fighting Irish didn’t bring in a veteran quarterback from the portal like they had the last two offseasons, Angeli was amid a training camp battle against No. 6-ranked class of 2024 quarterback CJ Carr and No. 14-ranked class of 2023 quarterback Kenny Minchey. ND head coach Marcus Freeman has yet to name a starter.
Alongside Collins, Angeli joins a Syracuse quarterback room containing redshirt freshman Jakhari Williams — who started with the first team during SU’s spring game with Collins sidelined — and freshmen Luke Carney and Rich Belin. The Orange recently lost 2024 backup Michael Johnson Jr. and AJ Miller to the portal.
Appearing on ESPN Syracuse on April 16, Brown mentioned SU would add another quarterback from the portal. With Angeli’s addition, it’s unclear whether he’ll be the starter or if Collins will still assume the role.
Collins is rated the 23rd-best quarterback to hit the portal, with Angeli slotting in 18th, according to 247Sports.
