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Twelve Syracuse football players participated in its Pro Day at Ensley Athletic Center on Monday. According to SU Athletics, there were nearly 50 NFL scouts and staffers from over 30 National Football League franchises on hand.

The day began with athletes completing the 40-yard dash, short shuttle and three-cone drill before transitioning to positional drills to close the open media portion. The positional drills were highlighted by Kyle McCord going through a workout run by quarterbacks consultant Jordan Palmer, who has trained NFL quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Sam Darnold.

Here are some observations from Syracuse’s Pro Day:

OG takes final bow

Tight end Oronde Gadsden II’s path toward an NFL career catapulted in his breakout sophomore season in 2022. Since his First-Team All-ACC year, Gadsden accumulated another in 2024 while building up his prospect status, setting the stage for Monday’s Pro-Day performance.

As his father, Oronde Gadsden, a six-year NFL wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins, looked on from the sideline, Gadsden showcased an impressive route tree from sideline toe drags to deep balls through the heart of the field. Gadsden’s youth career as a receiver provides versatility as a larger slot receiver with outside speed rather than an inside bully.

“Those are the tight ends that they pay the most,” Gadsden said of his athleticism.

SU’s Pro Day also allowed him to run the 40-yard dash and a more expanded route tree, two attributes he said he didn’t get to test at the NFL Combine just a few weeks ago. Gadsden said he’s been working out in California just 20 minutes down the road from McCord, allowing the two to train together multiple times since the Orange’s Holiday Bowl win over Washington State. Also, in California, he thought he tested out slower than he ran Monday in Syracuse.

He’s purposefully toyed with his playing weight to showcase versatility for NFL teams, listing at 247 pounds at the East-West Shrine Bowl on Jan. 29, 244 at the combine and 241 on Monday and posting an unofficial 4.59 40-yard dash. Through his time with the Orange, he’s proven to show his versatility, whether inside or outside. The tight end is listed as the No. 13 overall tight end in the NFL Draft per ESPN, but Gadsden’s Pro-Day performance further solidified his likely status to be the first pass-catcher selected from Syracuse since Mike Williams in 2010.

Oronde Gadsden II runs a route during Syracuse’s Pro Day on Monday as his father, former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, watches from the sideline. Gadsden showcased his polished route tree and 4.59 speed, further solidifying his draft stock as one of the nation’s top tight-end prospects. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor

Allen Jr.’s draft decision, pass-catching

LeQuint Allen Jr. said that he had a percentage in mind that his last collegiate game would be Syracuse’s bowl game versus Washington State, but it wasn’t 100%. Because he had another year of collegiate eligibility remaining, the running back said on the broadcast postgame he’d talk with Fran Brown about his future on Dec. 31, 2024.

On Monday, Allen said it was a hard and close choice to declare for the NFL Draft, adding he “had some talks” when asked if he had any negotiations with SU. But Allen said after a “deep talk” in December, he made his decision.

“I thought I was ready, and coach Fran Brown thought I was ready too,” Allen said.

Regarding his NFL readiness, Allen cited his versatility in coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns while adding over 500 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns in 2024. Ranked as ESPN’s No. 13 running back, Allen participated in the combine and Reese’s Senior Bowl before Syracuse’s Pro Day.

Through conversations with NFL teams, Allen said “every team” has talked about his pass-catching as something that will stick in the league. Pass catching was the only drill the running back participated in at Syracuse’s Pro Day, bypassing the 40-yard dash, short shuttle and three-cone drill — which he also didn’t do at the combine. Allen caught all his targets during the workout, including a downfield deep ball.

Here’s one of Kyle McCord’s “pro day” throws from today where he connected with running back LeQuint Allen Jr.: pic.twitter.com/FdADLWQonl

— Justin Girshon (@JustinGirshon) March 17, 2025

“I think I could bring a lot of versatility, I’m not just a running back,” Allen said regarding what he can bring to an NFL team.

Defensive standouts

Fifth-year linebacker Marlowe Wax suffered an injury in the Orange’s season opener against Ohio, sidelining him for five games before he returned against Pittsburgh on Oct. 24, 2024. On Monday, Wax admitted he “probably came back a little early,” while Alijah Clark added he saw the linebacker play “at f*cking 55%” the remainder of the season. It’s why the biggest eruption of Pro Day came after Wax, who isn’t ranked among ESPN’s top-26 linebackers, completed his 40-yard dash.

“The scouts was wondering if I was gonna run good, if I was gonna move good because of the injury. But that’s not even a thought anymore. I feel good about the injury and everything,” said Wax, who added he has trained with SU alumni Zaire Franklin and Ifeatu Melifonwu in Tampa, Florida.

Because of Wax’s injury, Syracuse moved Justin Barron from safety to linebacker, where he’s ranked No. 22 in ESPN’s rankings. The linebackers both participated in the 40-yard dash, short shuttle, three-cone drill and positional drills. Per SU Athletics, they tied with 6.98 seconds in the three-cone drill, while Wax completed the short shuttle drill in 4.29 seconds, less than a tenth faster than Barron.

“Pretty much what I’ve been hearing is that I’m going to live in that base package as a will linebacker,” Barron said. “It can change in a lot of different defenses, but I’m comfortable with that. That’s what I’ve been doing this year. I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Additionally, Clark participated in the 40-yard dash, short shuttle, three-cone drill and safety positional drills. He ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at the combine but didn’t participate in the short shuttle or three-cone drill. Throughout his draft process, the safety said he’s talked to all 32 teams, where his versatility in moving like a corner, hitting like a safety and his ability to play in the nickel or post has stood out.

“I’m a versatile player, and they said that definitely will help me get on a 53-man roster,” Clark said. “The more versatile I am, the higher my value goes up.”

After running a 4.57 40-yard dash at the combine, 6-foot-5, 261 pounds edge rusher Fadil Diggs — who led SU with 7.5 sacks in his lone year with the program — didn’t run at Pro Day. However, he participated in the short shuttle — which he didn’t do at the combine — and benched 225 pounds 26 times, a mark that would have been good for eighth among defensive ends and edge players at the combine, per SU Athletics.

“I’m glad that I went up there to put them numbers up and show that I could be an athlete,” Diggs said.

Marlowe Wax sprints through his 40-yard dash at Syracuse’s Pro Day, drawing the loudest reaction of the day. After battling a season-long injury, Wax impressed scouts with his speed and movement, helping solidify his draft stock alongside Justin Barron and Alijah Clark. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor

Additional notes, lasting legacy

Along with Syracuse’s prominent draft hopefuls, the Orange’s contingent who worked out Monday included wide receiver Jackson Meeks, cornerback Clarence Lewis, right tackle Savion Washington, tight end Maximilian Mang, long snapper Tom Callahan and former 2024 graduate Caleb Okechukwu. Returning senior Trebor Peña, SU’s receptions leader, also took reps along with Meeks, Gadsden, Mang and Allen.

The overall presence from the Orange was a stark contrast from a year ago when just seven Syracuse players participated, and Garrett Shrader couldn’t perform due to recent shoulder surgery. Meeks, who became Syracuse’s fourth wide receiver since 2016 to tally 1,000 receiving yards in a season, highlighted the offensive end zone drills with multiple high-pointed catches.

Meeks said not being invited to the combine wasn’t unexpected as he’s been underrated his entire career, but he’s spoken with all 32 teams and heard he could be selected anywhere from the third round to being picked up as an undrafted free agent.

“I’ve always been overlooked,” Meeks said. “Of course, I was angry. But it wasn’t really like, ‘Oh man.’ I gotta keep working. I gotta get it out the mud.”

Pro Day signaled the last time wearing SU gear for much of the core who revived the program in its first year under Brown. As much of the squad reinforced their futures, the future of the program watched on from the sidelines.

“We set a blueprint. We set the standard,” Meeks said. “They’re gonna be better than us.”

Wax said he’s been at all five events in his time on campus, making it surreal for his turn to arrive. Barron pointed out the underclassmen Connecticut natives, who he hopes look up to him and are motivated by his performance. He added that this group of upperclassmen keyed in on the Pro Day date since right after Syracuse’s Holiday Bowl win, texting consistently throughout the preparation process.

The film will be studied, and the digits on the stopwatches will be picked apart. But the athletes now must sit back and wait to see their next destination revealed, hoping to earn an opportunity to capture their dreams while furthering SU’s brand at the highest level.

Published on March 17, 2025 at 7:57 pm