Orange grades: Angeli flourishes in return, RBs rampant vs. New Hampshire
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Syracuse football is off and running. The Orange began their 2026 season with a 66-3 trouncing of New Hampshire Saturday. It was SU’s first win in 350 days, dating back to its upset win at Clemson on Sept. 20, 2025.
Were the Wildcats even the slightest challenge Saturday? One-hundred percent not. It’s likely Syracuse’s easiest game on its schedule. SU’s first test of the campaign was simple — essentially a teacher’s first-week quiz, designed to put some points in everyone’s gradebook before difficult assignments arrive.
Here’s how Syracuse’s position groups performed in their first assessment of the season:
Quarterback: A
Steve Angeli returned to game action for the first time since tearing his Achilles against Clemson, and it looked like he hit resume on his breathtaking, burgeoning highlight-reel play he began last season with. While the Orange dialed up 43 run and 34 pass plays, Angeli was up to snuff when called upon.
He totaled 263 yards and three touchdowns, completing 20-of-29 attempts. The New Jersey native had a particularly good rapport with sixth-year wide receiver Umari Hatcher, who he targeted eight times.
A hush washed over the JMA Wireless Dome when Angeli went down in the second quarter. But the cacophony returned when Angeli burst into a sprint toward the sideline. He was OK. He’d continue guiding SU’s offense until the 11-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
Then, backups Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson — two experienced signal-callers head coach Fran Brown brought in to bolster the unit after last-season’s swoon — took the field. Kennesaw State transfer Odom went 2-for-3 and tossed Syracuse’s final touchdown of the game.
Running back: A
After losing its main two running backs in the offseason, questions loomed about who’d get the share of handoffs in Syracuse’s backfield in 2026. In the opener against a feeble Wildcats squad that allowed 374 rushing yards in their first game on Aug. 28, SU flashed its running back depth and explosiveness with 239 yards.
Saturday’s game was a coming-out party for freshman running back Shavane Anderson Jr., who clocked 102 yards and three touchdowns on 10 touches. Sophomore Tylik Hill wasn’t far behind, posting 91 yards and one touchdown on 16 attempts. The Orange even mixed in Penn State transfer Matt Outten, handing him the ball 10 times, which he turned into 44 yards.
Syracuse’s running back room could have even more weapons. Saturday it was without LSU transfer Ju’Juan Johnson, who Brown said Monday could play but was held out to fully recover, as well as Jackson State transfer Ahmad Miller. We’ll see how those two factor in alongside the rolling running backs when Syracuse takes the field against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Cal Saturday.
Receiver/Tight end: A-
With Angeli back, Syracuse’s pass-catchers largely flourished Saturday. Hatcher, who Brown labeled the leader of the wide receiver unit, demonstrated his bona fides with two touchdowns and 147 yards after playing in just one game last season. Angeli and Hatcher combined on three straight plays early in the fourth quarter to make it 50-3.
Besides Hatcher, the rest of the Orange’s receiving corps wasn’t called upon much, but it largely delivered. David Clement logged 35 yards and a touchdown on two receptions, while Miami (Ohio) transfer Cole Weaver recorded 32 yards on three catches.
SU scored on nine of its 12 drives, so it’s hard to complain. But on its first drive of the game, tight end Noah Meyers dropped a pass. The play was originally called a fumble but was reviewed and reversed. Live and learn.
Offensive line: B
Syracuse’s offensive line allowed the third-most sacks in the ACC last season at 3.1 per game, so Saturday’s total of two sacks allowed was only just behind that same pace. With Angeli’s injury past, keeping him upright and largely unscathed is paramount. Granted, the offensive line often did afford Syracuse’s signal-caller time to pick a pass and dice UNH’s defense. Plus, it opened holes for the Orange’s running backs to run rampant.
Compiling four penalties is a slight nick against the offensive line. Kam Pringle getting called for holding to annul a 38-yard Hill touchdown didn’t matter Saturday. But it could in closer contests down the line.
Defensive line: A+
Yes, the caveat is that it’s New Hampshire, but the Orange’s defensive line was buzzing around Saturday. It recorded five sacks, 10 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.
Pro Football Focus gave defensive lineman Rashard Perry the Orange’s best mark at 98.1 for his three tackles and interception, where he picked off a checkdown at the line of scrimmage and returned it 17 yards, setting up an Angeli touchdown.
New Hampshire quarterbacks Brooks Bentley and Tommy McLeish were bottled up for just 99 yards and a 58% completion rate, while UNH only compiled 56 rushing yards on 34 attempts — and 46 of those yards came on one play.
Linebackers: A
The defensive line did such a good job that the Orange’s linebackers were often extra help to extinguish a Wildcats play behind or barely across the line of scrimmage.
Still, UT-Martin transfer Keyshawn Johnson impressed with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, which was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He finished with a 92.6 PFF grade.
This was our first look at Antoine Deslauriers, who was a Freshman All-American in 2025, teaming up with Third Team All-MAC linebacker Chris D’Appolonia. They combined for six tackles. Their pairing will be one to watch as the opposition toughens and they’re put under more pressure.
Late in the game, senior Zyian Moultrie-Goddard picked up a fumble and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown, producing another highlight from the unit Saturday.
Secondary: B
When the opponents’ longest pass play is 17 yards, as UNH’s was Saturday, your secondary is in for a good day. Chris Peal led the unit with four solo tackles as he began a season that could conclude with being selected in the NFL Draft. Demetres Samuel Jr. launched his sophomore campaign with two solo tackles, while Davien Kerr logged three total tackles. Not much to complain or write home about.
However, the one mark against the unit was when Peal was assessed a targeting penalty and ejected from the game in the thurd quarter. The new rules this season disqualified him for the rest of the contest, but he’ll be eligible to play from the outset against Cal.
Postgame, Brown joked he was planning to pull Peal soon after he committed the penalty so he avoided having to tell the defensive back his day was done — the referees did it for him. As long as Peal proves this blip was a fluke, then his draft stock and this unit’s grade will grow.
Special teams: B+
Syracuse’s special teams proved the most volatile Saturday. There were strong returns and blocked punts but also penalties that wiped out the progress of those deep returns.
First, the good. Samuel averaged almost 21 yards on his four punt returns and burst for 38 yards on his lone kickoff return. Syracuse averaged 17 yards on all of its punt returns. Defensively, Kerr blocked a UNH punt in the third quarter, leading to a safety.
Now, the bad. On three of SU’s seven punt returns, it was called for holding, thus annulling its strong field position. Brown was not concerned with the penalties postgame, but it’s something for Syracuse to clean up so it’s not beating itself.
Though SU only punted twice, freshman Jimmy Gregg, the No. 1-ranked punter in the 2026 recruiting class, blasted the ball an average of 38 yards. For comparison, now-NFL punter Jack Stonehouse averaged 47.1 on his boots in 2025.
Coaching: A-
You have to think Saturday checked every box imaginable for Syracuse. First of all, to win. Then, getting Angeli back and making it seem like he was picking up where he left off. And, of course, to keep him fit. That had to be top of mind for the Orange and every fan, especially when he stayed down for an extended period in the second quarter. But the sprint showed, and Angeli confirmed postgame he’s not injured.
Saturday also featured the SU debut of defensive coordinator Vince Kehres. Yes, the competition didn’t offer much of a test, but the defense forced three turnovers and allowed three points.
The Orange have eight new coordinators, and their units all showcased themselves during moments in the opener. The proven players reminded us what they’re capable of, and some newcomers and youngsters flashed what they can contribute.
The one glaring area to dock points is the 12 flags and 125 penalty yards the Orange suffered. Playing cleaner football across the board is the next step.
