Fran Brown speaks on Ross-Simmons’ eligibility, WR status at weekly availability
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Fran Brown spotted Justus Ross-Simmons across the Ensley Athletic Center indoor facility. In the middle of his weekly media availability Monday, the Syracuse head coach wanted the wide receiver to join him in addressing the press.
“Justus!” screamed an SU Athletics spokesperson across the domed football field, exhorting Ross-Simmons to come over.
The wide receiver played for the Orange in 2024 and 2025. After a Colorado judge issued a temporary injunction allowing high school class of 2022 prospects like Ross-Simmons to return for a fifth year, the Rochester native joined Syracuse practice last week with the possibility of playing for SU this season.
However, on Friday, a panel of judges paused the restraining order, making Ross-Simmons and others in the same plight now ineligible to play. Ross-Simmons didn’t participate in SU’s practice Monday, instead standing on the sideline in an orange Syracuse long-sleeve.
Once Ross-Simmons arrived at the media scrum, Brown called him in front of the assembled media and shared a message.
“Want to make sure they know that you are working,” Brown said of Ross-Simmons as he put his arm around the wide receiver. “We are thinking about different sides. Just tell them that you’re focused. We figure out whatever’s gonna happen, but Justus is a good kid. We’re finishing his degree up, and he’s about to change Rochester. Whether he gets to play ball or not, I think he’s an amazing guy. So that’s why he’s back here.”
Here are more takeaways from Brown’s weekly media availability Monday:
The Ross-Simmons situation
Brown further stressed his support for Ross-Simmons — however these ever-changing, Byzantine eligibility lawsuits pan out — when repeated questions about his playing status were levied Monday.
“Whatever way it goes, I’m gonna support him,” Brown said. “I’m gonna be behind him. I want to see him get a degree, and if he’ll be able to play, then we’ll push him to play. And then if he can’t play… then I’m gonna keep him around and make sure that he can make a difference here and in Rochester.”
Brown acknowledged Ross-Simmons “comes from a pretty rough environment” and wanted to use him as an example of “what fight is” and facing adversity to share with his team, he said.
When asked if Ross-Simmons would file a lawsuit of his own or join one seeking eligibility, Brown said he doesn’t “really get all involved in that.”
“Regardless (of) what happens, he’ll be around, and I’m going to continue to help (him) finish out the mission to be faith-driven, educated, hungry, following communities,” the head coach said. “That’s what we’re going to do.”
Wide receiver standouts
SU’s wide receiving unit wasn’t just denuded after last season; it was practically destroyed. Its top seven receivers are no longer on the team, including Ross-Simmons.
So, the Orange has rebuilt the corps with a combination of transfers — like Miami (Ohio)’s Cole Weaver, Florida State’s Elijah Moore and Penn State’s Matthew Outten — and freshmen and other inexperienced players like Calvin Russell III, Amare’ Gough and Terrell Wilfong.
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When asked who stood out on the remodeled unit Monday, Brown turned to one of the sole experienced players: six-year veteran Umari Hatcher.
“He’s the leader of that room, and he’s done a really good job of doing it,” Brown said of Hatcher. “He teaches those guys and holds them all accountable.”
An injury limited Hatcher to just one game in 2025, but he compiled 273 yards in 2024 and 482 yards in 2023. He also hauled in three touchdowns in each of those seasons.
“(He’s) an older guy now that understands and knows what he wants, and he’s wanting to work,” Brown said of Hatcher. “He knows that I’m no tolerance. We’re gonna work hard every day out here.”
Besides Hatcher, Brown said three-star freshman Phoenix Henriquez has been “doing really well.” He added that 6-foot-3 freshman B.J. Garrett has strong hands, Darius Johnson is “always playing hard” and sophomore Julian McFadden “has stepped up.”
“Coach (Josh) Gattis, (offensive quality control) Coach (Deon) Maddox, they’ve been a huge help for us in that room in lifting the mindset of the room and shifting the culture to what our whole team’s culture is,” Brown said. “They got them all on the right page and right path to be successful.”
Other scribbles in the notebook
As quarterback Steve Angeli nears live action and works his way back to full health after his Achilles tear, Brown praised the signal-caller’s relentless approach on the road back.
“He still was holding his teammates accountable, understanding and knowing what’s going on, caring about the team, his detail. I think he’s a tough kid,” Brown said.
On Monday, Brown admitted what everyone expected: Angeli will be Syracuse’s starting quarterback in Week 1 against New Hampshire on Sept. 5.
Last season, Angeli’s injury led the Orange to turn to Rickie Collins, Joe Filardi and Luke Carney under center, resulting in eight straight losses, seven touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. Over the offseason, SU brought in experienced starters Malachi Nelson, Danny Lauter and Amari Odom to provide stronger backup.
After Brown finished speaking, new edge coach Jeremy Hawkins held court in front of reporters. Or you could say he dined, because the former Georgia State assistant coach repeatedly emphasized his mantra of leading his unit, “EEAT.” The acronym stands for energy, enthusiasm, attitude and technique. On top of Brown’s signature “D.A.R.T.” — for detailed, accountable, relentless and tough — Hawkins wanted his corps to follow the “EEAT” polestar.
“First, I praise energy, enthusiasm, attitude and technique,” Hawkins said. “That enthusiasm, that’s how you live life. You wake up every day. You gotta have that enthusiasm. You gotta have that desire. And I’m hungry. I want to go eat. I want to have everything that I do. I’m gonna do it the best I can do it.”
Hawkins even described the JMA Wireless Dome using his acronym, sharing his own hunger for the season to start.
“It has energy, it’s enthusiastic, it has attitude and the technique of everybody getting together the right way is gonna be smooth,” Hawkins said as he clapped his hands, imagining the cacophony. “I cannot wait to get into the Dome and have third-and-long. And the crowd is just screaming. And we can’t hear, so you know the offense can’t hear. It’s time to go eat.”
