Observations from Syracuse’s spring game: Battle under center, WR potential
Syracuse largely focused on its passing attack in its spring game Saturday, with five different quarterbacks getting a turn under center. Zoe Xixis | Asst. Photo Editor
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Picture Syracuse’s sideline on this spring evening. It’s not what it was supposed to look like.
Steve Angeli is wearing a blue uniform and is lightly jogging, but he’s still mending an Achilles injury. Calvin Russell III is scootering around with a boot on. He’s smiling even though his inaugural season will be cut short. Fran Brown is amping up the crowd. It feels necessary after SU’s rough 3-9 campaign.
This operation is still in its early stages. Russell’s injury is a big blow, and, although Angeli is progressing forward from his Achilles tear, he’s not quite ready to go. Yasin Willis, Johntay Cook II and Dan Villari are gone, and a mission to find their replacements has begun.
Saturday showed the current state of the Orange. Syracuse hosted its annual spring game, where returners and offseason additions offered a glimpse at the 2026 campaign.
Here are some observations from the scrimmage in the JMA Wireless Dome:
Battle under center
Angeli’s spot as Syracuse’s starter is solidified. Brown often says he wants his guys to compete and that no player’s spot is safe, but after Angeli’s start to the 2025 season, it would be foolish to bench him. So, Saturday served as a battle for the backup, where Zaid Lott, Malachi Nelson, Amari Odom, Danny Lauter and Rich Belin got a chance under center.
Lott, an early-enrolled freshman, made the start for the blue team. His first play was a handoff to Malachi Coleman up the middle for a considerable gain. But, by the end of the possession, Lott was picked off by Davien Kerr, who returned it into the red zone.
Nelson, who sported a white jersey, meaning he could play for either squad, completed a pass for the orange team before being replaced by Odom. The Kennesaw State transfer couldn’t quite punch in the score, though, throwing an interception over the middle into the chest of Toledo transfer Chris D’Appolonia.
Two turnovers in back-to-back two-minute drills weren’t exactly how SU wanted to start its spring game, but as the second half began, the signal-callers began to find a rhythm. Odom, in for the orange team, connected with Elijah Moore for an immediate 65-yard gain.
Although the drive ended with a field goal, points were on the board. No complaints. Nelson started the next drive with a short completion over the middle, but the orange team opted to punt on fourth-and-1.
Finally, Lauter, a Georgetown transfer, joined the action. Lauter was the Hoyas’ starter in 2024 but started just three games in 2025. He completed a pass to Moore and Terrell Wilfong before a fourth-down punt. Belin entered in the final two minutes and was hushed.
It surely wasn’t glorious, and after Saturday, the question of who backs up Angeli remains. But there were still positives from the unit that suggest potential by the start of the season.
Receivers shine bright
Of all the questions surrounding Syracuse ahead of next season, one of the largest is who will be catching Angeli’s passes. Moore, a Florida State transfer, hauled in the aforementioned 65-yard pass, SU’s first big-yardage play through the air.
Miami Ohio transfer Cole Weaver connected with Lauter soon after for a seven-yard gain. Wilfong was next to show off with a 19-yard pick up, which included a broken tackle and a few yards after the catch.
The Orange need an explosive jump-ball receiver to fill Justus Ross-Simmons’ void. He became Syracuse’s go-to 50-50 guy last year, but is pursuing an NFL career and leaves a large gap in the unit, alongside Cook and Darrell Gill Jr.’s departures.
Umari Hatcher, who previously entered the transfer portal but withdrew his name in January, is a solid option to take on Ross-Simmons’ responsibilities. So is Darien Williams, who Brown says is getting better every day. However, neither received a target until 15 minutes in, with both passes falling incomplete.
Wilfong capped the third quarter with a large gain off a back-shoulder ball down the right sideline, this time coming from Odom. Weaver finished the performance with a five-yard reception as the clock wound down.
Where were the stars?
The names above don’t have much of a reputation — at least for now. So where were the stars? Well, Demetres Samuel Jr., Antoine Deslauriers, Angeli and Russell were on the sidelines after being ruled out prior to Saturday. Angeli still warmed up with the team and participated in a mid-game passing activity with a fan.
He was seen leading stretches and jogging pregame, also passing with the rest of the quarterbacks. Samuel was on the orange team’s sideline in full pads. He was hyping up his teammates in huddles, while Deslauriers took part in pregame linebacker drills before doing the same.
Brown made it clear Angeli was getting to where he needs to be, but there was no reason to risk his healing with the spring game. Russell, who suffered a similar injury to Angeli’s, was joyfully riding his scooter around the field and the sideline. He boldly said he hopes to be back on the field by the end of October.
This team isn’t filled with many other established stars. Cornerback Chris Peal was inactive, as were Joe Cruz and Cornell Perry, two faces that often saw the starting lineup last season. Tripp Woody was another starter last season, yet, unlike the others, he was asked to play on special teams Saturday. He converted two field-goal attempts, one from 43 yards and another from 29.
Additional notes
Syracuse enters the 2026 season with a near-brand-new coaching staff. Vince Kehres mans the defense, Alex Bayer is with the special teams unit, Josh Gattis coaches the receivers and Juan Castillo is in charge of the offensive line. There are plenty of other personnel changes, but you wouldn’t know by watching Saturday’s game.
It was difficult to get a true understanding of Kehres’ scheme, despite SU players saying they’ve enjoyed the freedom it brings. Aside from the deep passes to Wilfong and Moore, the defenses held firm, especially on the run. Kehres’ Toledo run defense was top 10 in the country last year, and Coleman’s game-opening run was the running backs’ only notable play.
The special teams, which was a major problem in 2024 yet improved under Ricky Brumfield in 2025, sees another change with Bayer. Bayer spent the last four seasons at Bowling Green and coached multiple top specialists. Most kickoffs Saturday, however, were seen with one returner opting for a touchback. But Woody’s two field goals were an encouraging sign for the unit.
The offensive line struggled to create open lanes for the running backs. Freshman back Shavane Anderson Jr. saw some success on the ground, as did Coleman, but the unit was otherwise limited.
As the game continued, it was clear Brown’s pass-heavy strategy still rings true. Despite a horrid season by SU’s backup quarterbacks last year, Saturday’s spring game featured far more passing than rushing.
