Starting RB Yasin Willis plans to enter transfer portal
Willis rushed for 558 yards on 129 carries in 2025 and is SU’s most high-profile name to enter the transfer portal this season. Joe Zhao | Daily Orange File Photo
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Syracuse running back Yasin Willis will enter the transfer portal, he announced on social media Tuesday. Willis spent two seasons with the Orange and was their main rusher in 2025, accumulating 558 yards on 129 carries.
Willis is Syracuse’s highest-profile player to enter the portal so far. He joins wide receivers Emanuel Ross and Jaylan Hornsby, linebacker Derek McDonald, quarterback Luke Carney and others, but nobody played as big of a role as Willis did for Syracuse this season. He took over for LeQuint Allen Jr. as SU’s starting running back and looked to be a cornerstone for its offense next season with a healthy Steve Angeli.
Amid Syracuse’s eight-game losing streak to end the season, Willis said he’d return to the Orange next year. He talked about conversations he’d had with Angeli and the opportunity to play a fully healthy season together, creating potent offense for the Orange.
“Next year, we just gonna have to turn it up off the rip,” Willis said on Nov. 18. “I feel like we didn’t really set the tone, especially in the offseason, so when these new guys come in here, it’s straight to business.”
Instead, Willis chose to enter the portal, leaving Syracuse without a marquee running back for next season. With Willis gone, Syracuse’s running back room consists of Tylik Hill and Malachi Coleman. Malachi James and Jaden Hart also plan to enter the transfer portal alongside Willis.
Will Nixon’s future is up in the air. According to Syracuse.com, Nixon applied for a medical hardship waiver that would grant him a seventh year of eligibility, but there’s been no word on that yet. SU’s uncertainty at running back means Fran Brown will likely have to dip into the portal to get a starter for 2026.
Brown was crucial in bringing Willis to Syracuse. Willis was initially committed to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2023. Though once Brown was hired at SU, Willis flipped his commitment on Dec. 10.
As a freshman, Willis sat behind Allen Jr., recording 36 carries for 130 yards. With Allen Jr. gone, the top running back spot was Willis’. However, despite a three-touchdown performance against then-No. 24 Tennessee in SU’s season opener, the sophomore failed to establish himself.
Brown said Willis was “SU’s best player” and “they needed to get him the ball more,” but once Angeli went down, the Orange’s offense went mute. Rickie Collins and others never threatened defenses with their arms, which led to loaded boxes. Syracuse’s offensive line didn’t open up holes either, and it led to Willis averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
Last spring, Syracuse dealt with a significant loss on offense when Trebor Peña entered the portal. Willis’ entrance into the portal isn’t quite as dramatic, but it’s still very significant for the Orange’s future.
