Fran Brown talks QB battle, loss of freshmen WRs in 2nd preseason press conference
In his second preseason press conference, Fran Brown discussed the ongoing quarterback battle between Rickie Collins and Steve Angeli. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
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It’s the Dog Days of summer. The sun blazes down on the practice fields outside of the Ensley Center. A Kona Ice truck greets the Orange after a long day at work, providing a flavorful post-practice cool-down. Syracuse head coach Fran Brown even indulged after speaking with the media.
A quarterback must be chosen in a matter of weeks. Injuries monotonously pile up and are promptly treated. All will eventually be sorted out. Brown likes to keep his days jam-packed with positive actions, meticulously tracking all 168 hours in a week. The games won in November are won in the present. It’s all Brown is focused on at this point.
“It’s a long season, so it’s all about the finish,” Brown said. “This season is gonna go long, and I just hope that they have that mindset of being able to focus, and that’s what I’m trying to instill into them.”
Here are some takeaways from Brown’s second press conference of SU’s fall training camp:
Collins, Angeli continue battle
On July 31, as fall camp began, Brown described the battle between Rickie Collins and Steve Angeli at the quarterback position as a 51-49 or 52-48 advantage in Collins’ favor. Though younger in age and college experience, Collins joined the Orange in December, giving him a multi-month headstart on Angeli, who entered the fold as a spring transfer from Notre Dame. Brown confirmed Monday that the advantage remained 51-49 in Collins’ favor following the first inter-squad scrimmage on Saturday.
Pick apart whatever you please to find who has a substantial edge. Collins wore a GoPro on his helmet — a tool Kyle McCord used in fall camp in 2024 to rewatch film from a first-person point of view — during August 4’s practice. Angeli wore it the next day. Since Thursday’s practice, Syracuse has seemingly had both wear the device, weakening signs of favoritism toward one. Fans can even scroll through SU’s social media profiles to compare the quantity of content between Collins and Angeli. The scrimmages, however, will define who wins the starting job.
“I thought they were doing a real good job. Just hoping Rickie takes another huge step this week. It’s gonna mean a lot to us. Pushing for that,” Brown said. “And Steve’s done a great job also. So hoping that Steve takes another huge step this week.”
Brown acknowledges that there are hiccups along the way. The Orange have 19 calendar days and nine training camp practices, plus a few more in the final week of August before taking on No. 24-ranked Tennessee in Atlanta. It was Angeli’s first time truly operating Jeff Nixon’s offense in live action. Brown estimated it was Collins’ fifth or sixth.
Both Collins and Angeli have said the competition has brought the best out of them, though they’re focusing on their own games. While not comparing themselves to each other, they’d also be wise to not compare themselves to McCord. His 4,779 passing yards led the nation and were 466 more than next best, first overall NFL Draft pick Cam Ward. Brown understands it’s in their best interest, no matter who takes the first snap against the Volunteers.
“I’m not really trying to compare them to Kyle,” Brown said. “I’m trying to compare them to them being able to run the offense the best that they can run offense, to do what fits them.”
Special teams work
Syracuse’s special-teams unit was the glaring weakness of Fran Brown’s first campaign. So much so that two days after SU’s Holiday Bowl victory, it was reported that coordinator James Vollono was “not expected to return” to the team.
Vollono’s kicking unit shifted between three different options all season, while each game seemed to have come with some mishap or lack of judgment. Brown replaced Vollono with former Georgia Tech special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield.
“He brought passion. He brought detail,” Brown said of Brumfield. “The guys relate to him all over. He’s a chameleon, so he understands and knows how to fit in, and he knows how to make the guys buy into what he wants.”
Brown recognizes the special teams unit as the heartbeat of the team. While trusting his new coordinator, he said he needs to make sure the players “love it” and embrace the third phase. The Orange lost its punt returner, Trebor Peña, to Penn State, and Darius “Boobie” Johnson took returns in the spring game but will open the season on the sidelines due to an injury.
Johntay Cook will likely step into the punt returning role while a current kicking competition between Jadyn Oh and Iowa transfer Tripp Woody continues through camp. Syracuse is secure at punter with Preseason All-ACC selection Jack Stonehouse. On kick returns, Malachi James and Yasin Willis saw reps last year and will likely split time again in 2025. With all the possible combinations, one thing is for certain: Brown needs improvement from his special teams.
“We want to be able to win on special teams,” Brown said. “We don’t want to have special teams be a reason that we lose a couple of games.”
Additional battles, injury notes
Linebackers are commonly known as the quarterbacks of the defense. The Orange know a thing or two about the importance of the men in the middle, with Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron holding down the fort in previous seasons. Both have moved on to fighting for NFL roster spots, in turn, allowing the remaining linebackers to fight for starting spots.
Brown highlighted the competition at the position. Whether Syracuse runs a 4-2-5, a 4-3-4 or a 3-3-5 like the days of Rocky Long, it has both returning and new options to fill the gaps. South Dakota transfer Gary Bryant III has emerged as a key piece in practice sessions open to the media, usually starting drills for the unit next to Anwar Sparrow or Derek McDonald. Freshman Antoine Deslauriers and redshirt sophomore James Heard, among others, will also play important parts. Brown said the addition of Bryant was largely based on toughness and experience, as only McDonald has seen substantial college-game time at the position.
Brown touched on a few injuries that have occurred as SU continues to ramp up its sessions. Johnson, the freshman wide receiver, suffered a fibula fracture in his right leg, sporting a bright green cast with a scooter at practice. Brown said Johnson was running with the second-string unit and will be out for around five weeks. Fellow freshman wide receiver Julian McFadden is out for the season with a broken collarbone. He has already received surgery and is wearing a sling.
Other notable players wearing a green, non-contact jersey after Syracuse’s first scrimmage included defensive lineman George Rooks, defensive back Jalil Martin and tight end Jamie Tremble. Both Tremble and Martin wore the jerseys prior to the scrimmage.
