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Wide receivers can be drama queens. You don’t have to lecture Myles White about that. SU’s wide receivers coach has spent three decades playing and coaching the position. No matter the level, White knows there’s an ego associated with receivers.

Complaints about lack of touches. Cryptic social media posts. Wanting to be paid more. It’s all part of their master plan to be the center of attention. It’s why receivers are considered divas by many.

Despite the baggage that comes with receivers, White feels cockiness is necessary to be successful as a pass catcher, especially at Syracuse.

“We want our guys to be confident and borderline arrogant,” White said. “Because that confidence is going to carry them through to make the next play.”

White has plenty of talent to work with at Syracuse. Johntay Cook has become a reliable slot receiver, leading the Orange with 456 yards. Darrell Gill Jr. is a stellar deep threat, while Justus Ross-Simmons is one of the best contested pass catchers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, previously leading it with five touchdowns up until last week.

However, since Rickie Collins became the starter, Syracuse’s offense has underperformed. The Orange’s receiver production hasn’t necessarily dropped, but Collins’ inconsistency as a passer has made the offense more volatile. Before Steve Angeli tore his Achilles, he led the country with 1,317 passing yards, and SU averaged 38.25 points per game. With Collins — who’s thrown eight interceptions and five touchdowns — that’s dropped to 11.3 points.

Switching quarterbacks midseason is always difficult. As a six-year NFL veteran, White knows each quarterback’s ball delivery and anticipation is unique. He said it “takes time to iron those things out.”

“That’s why we feel so confident in Rickie just being able to execute and get the job done,” White said. “Because we see the time that he works and the extra time that he puts in.”

Collins used the bye week to do just that. It started with building chemistry. Redshirt freshman Jaylan Hornsby said Collins achieved that by taking the offense bowling and throwing to receivers in the Ensley Athletic Facility after lifts and practice.

“It wasn’t timing,” Collins said on Oct. 14. “It was just more so getting on the same page, really. I was asking those guys how they will run routes and how they like things to be done, and so just to be able to go through that and try those things and see what works and what doesn’t.”

Zoey Grimes | Design Editor

But Collins’ mishaps persisted in Syracuse’s 30-13 loss against Pittsburgh. He tossed three interceptions and was even replaced by freshman Luke Carney for the opening three drives of the second half, before returning.

On Saturday, Cook had six catches on eight targets for 66 yards. Gill was targeted a career-high 11 times but recorded just four catches for 34 yards. Ross-Simmons only played two snaps while recovering from an ankle injury, which kept him out of the second half against SMU.

Brown said Monday he wants to get Cook and Gill the ball as much as possible. He’s also looking for them to turn eight-yard catches into 40.

“They’re pushing and doing a good job,” Brown said. “I want to see them make some plays and make some guys miss.”

Since Collins took over, Syracuse has had six passes of over 20 yards. Angeli had six alone in Syracuse’s season opener against then-No. 24 Tennessee, totaling 22 in under four games.

During that time, a different receiver stepped up each game. Ross-Simmons sparked SU’s comeback win over UConn with two touchdowns. Gill put up a career day against Colgate (six catches, 152 yards, two touchdowns), and Cook was nearly unguardable (six receptions, 113 yards) as the Orange took down Clemson.

The weapons are there to help Collins succeed. Gill has elite speed, and Ross-Simmons has soft hands. Both can come down with any 50-50 ball over defenders, as shown by highlight-reel catches against Colgate and Clemson. NFL Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss even highlighted both on ESPN’s “You Got Mossed” segment last month. Gill earned the top spot and received signed gloves from Moss soon after.

It’s plays like those which drive the room, redshirt freshman Emanuel Ross said. Ross added there’s a “quiet confidence” amongst the receivers, but a competitive drive to see who can make the next big play.

“We definitely bounce off of each other’s energy all the time,” Ross said. “When someone gets it started, we all want to make plays. It’s great energy.”

White compared receiving rooms to a reality television show. There’s always something going on, but it’s important to handle the ebbs and flows. Drama is limited among SU’s group, per White, who labels it as unselfish. However, Hornsby thinks it’d make good TV, whether it’s Gill’s love of fashion, Ross-Simmons’ passion for hunting or Terrell Wilfong’s jokes. Hornsby said it’s rare for the group not to be together off the field.

On the field, it’s all business. Ross said White hasn’t shied away from the fundamentals, improving players’ releases and route running. White makes sure it knows where to expect the ball, what windows to settle into and how to set its angle on a deeper throw to gain separation.

Every practice starts with perfecting its stances, Hornsby said. White makes sure the receivers’ pads are low while making them do cone drills to ensure they’re cleanly getting in and out of its breaks. Ross added White wants it to finish in a dominant position, whether it’d be as a receiver or run blocker.

“One-thousand-yard seasons happen over a period of time, by doing the small things every single day, in every single play,” White said. “It’s very minute details that separate a good receiver from a great one, so we focus on that.”

Johntay Cook evades Duke linebacker Jaiden Francois in SU’s 38-3 loss on Sept. 27. Cook recorded 74 receiving yards despite Syracuse’s offensive miscues. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor

White’s biggest challenge as a coach is being the proverbial “bad guy” and being tough on players when they need it. White recalled being frustrated by those coaches during his career, but they also helped him develop.

At Syracuse, White’s perspective carries plenty of weight within the receiving room. In 2013 and 2015, he caught passes from four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and two-time Super Bowl Champion Eli Manning. His experience in the league garners a sense of respect, Hornsby said.

So far, White’s gotten plenty from Cook, Gill and Ross-Simmons, despite a recent dip. They’ve accounted for 1,126 of SU’s total 2,060 receiving yards and 11 of its 15 touchdowns. Syracuse does have talent behind it, including Ross and Hornsby — both three-star prospects in the 2024 recruiting class per 247Sports — as well as freshman Darien Williams.

But they haven’t produced in their limited time. Ross had an encouraging five catch, 57-yard performance against Duke on Sept. 27, but has only had three catches since. Hornsby has had just one reception in the last four games. With Ross-Simmons limited last week, Hornsby earned 43 snaps — compared to 25 from Ross — but was held without a catch.

Outside of Syracuse’s main trio of upperclassmen, the lack of experience is still evident, yet White remains high on Ross and Hornsby. He said he has to constantly remind himself that they’re freshmen, and, while their youth makes them naive, they’re tough, disciplined and craving success.

“Those guys are fighting and clawing to take (the starters’) job,” White said. “I love that, because young guys who do that end up becoming really good players.”

While Syracuse’s youthful receivers learn the ropes, Gill, Cook and Ross-Simmons remain dangerous. Their connection with Angeli was palpable as he put up Kyle McCord-type numbers. It’s a completely different story with Collins.

Syracuse’s offense has lost its explosiveness and struggles to sustain drives. Despite having the weapons, Collins can’t seem to put it together.

Even with its quarterback’s inconsistency, the wide receiver room remains confident. There haven’t been weird social media posts or complaints about a lack of touches that could stir the pot. Instead, the focus remains on getting the offense back on track and competitive again.

“That’s just been (White’s) standard,” Ross said. “We want to be the best room in the country, so that standard is never going to change.”

Published on October 22, 2025 at 11:09 pm
Contact Zak: zakwolf784254@gmail.com | @ZakWolf22