Skip to content
football

Spring football week 3 notebook: QB competition, O-Line depth

Spring football week 3 notebook: QB competition, O-Line depth

Syracuse is still deciding who will replace Kyle McCord as its starting quarterback following three weeks of spring practices. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor

By Justin GirshonSports Editor

Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

On Nov. 16, 2024, Fran Brown went viral after Syracuse defeated California on the road in the aftermath of delivering his famed line, “Winners get washed.” He first used the phrase in his Monday press conference following SU’s loss to Boston College, saying, “You gotta earn the right to do certain things. So, winners get washed. I’m a loser. I just gotta wait a little bit.”

The gimmick went viral in the ensuing week and reached a new level when the Orange downed the Golden Bears for their seventh win of the season. Brown didn’t stop there, releasing merchandise online.

Over four months later, Brown holds the same mentality during SU’s spring practices, consistently wearing a hat with the slogan. On Saturday, after their spring game in the JMA Wireless Dome, half of the Orange will get their first shot at getting washed since defeating Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.

Here are some notes from SU football’s third week of spring practices:

QB competition

During his first spring press conference, Brown said he wanted to make a quick decision on who’d take over for Kyle McCord as Syracuse’s starting quarterback.

“We’re gonna pick a quarterback,” he said on March 21. “We’re gonna run with it. We gonna compete for two and three. He gonna be the guy until we say he’s not.”

Still, the Orange haven’t revealed who their starting signal caller will be less than a week before their spring game. Coaches continuously mention the competition is between four or five quarterbacks, which includes LSU transfer Rickie Collins, seventh-year senior Michael Johnson Jr. and redshirt freshman Jakhari Williams.

Of the three, Collins is the highest-profile name. The four-star class of 2023 prospect was rated a three-star transfer, per 247Sports, after backing up Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier for two seasons. In that time, he completed seven passes for 38 yards.

Because Nussmeier returned to Baton Rouge for his fifth year, Collins entered the transfer portal. On Friday, SU quarterbacks coach Nunzio Campanile said Collins’ competitive drive stood out, especially in an era where most players look for a guaranteed starting job.

“His willingness to compete, I thought that kind of set him apart,” Campanile said of Collins.

Upon arriving in Syracuse, Collins said it was his first time seeing snow, which ensued for his first two months on campus. Still, Collins adapted.

“He’s really fit into the team really quickly,” Campanile said.

Through the competition, Collins said he’s taking everything day by day, not looking far into the future.

“Just keep stacking days is my viewpoint on it, and just keep competing to the best of my ability,” Collins said of his mentality.

Beyond Collins, most of SU’s quarterbacks are underclassmen — Williams, Rich Belin, Luke Carney and AJ Miller. Collins said they remind him of improved versions of himself from a few years ago.

“They are way ahead of the curve than I was,” Collins said.

Williams, a three-star class of 2024 recruit, headlines the group. Campanile is impressed with the signal caller’s work in his second spring training camp with the Orange.

“The growth he made in January and February and heading into March, I’m really proud of him,” Campanile said. “I think that he’s shown that he’s going to be a really good player.”

Meanwhile, Johnson, the only other quarterback on Syracuse’s roster to attempt a pass last season, is the veteran in the room. He began his collegiate career at Penn State in 2019 before spending 2020-23 at Florida Atlantic.

“First and foremost, I’d say maturity,” Johnson said of what he brings to the table. “I feel like I’ve been in college for almost a decade.” He added his athleticism and ability to extend plays makes him stand out.

O-Line depth

Last year, Syracuse had 12 offensive linemen appear in at least one game. As the season progressed, the Orange also began rotating players, whether it was Josh Ilaoa stepping in at center for J’Onre Reed or Da’Metrius Weatherspoon and David Wohlabaugh Jr. splitting reps at left tackle.

Of Syracuse’s five primary starters — Savion Washington (NFL Draft), Jakob Bradford (graduation), Reed (USC), Mark Petry and Weatherspoon — only Petry and Weatherspoon are returning to the program. The only addition SU made in the portal was landing Alabama transfer Naquil Betrand.

Betrand, who transferred to the Crimson Tide after redshirting at Texas A&M in 2023, recorded 28 snaps in his 2024 season opener but didn’t play again for the remainder of the year. In early October, he was removed from Alabama’s roster.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive lineman then entered the portal. His attraction to SU stemmed from prior relationships with Brown and defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson from high school.

“(Brown and Robinson) just told me, if you want to play, you want good coaching, you want to be the best possible (player), become a great man, then come here,” Betrand said. “And I felt that was the best thing for me.”

Additionally, Betrand said he knew former Syracuse players Alijah Clark, Fadil Diggs and McCord growing up. He said during his official visit to SU, which was during one of its bowl game practices, Diggs — who was also at Texas A&M in 2023 — told him playing with the Orange would help him get to the NFL.

“I saw what (Diggs) did throughout the year, and then he about to go to the NFL,” Betrand said. “So it was a no-brainer for me.”

In its 2025 recruiting class, SU received seven commitments from offensive linemen. Though, the only one currently enrolled is 6-foot-7, 380-pound Byron Washington. The Texas native chose Syracuse over schools including Texas, Oregon and Houston. He credits SU’s coaches for the decision.

“I just love the coaching staff,” Washington said. “How all (of) them come together like a brotherhood, that just makes you want to play for them.”

Alongside Enrique Cruz Jr., who played sparingly last year after serving as SU’s starting left tackle in 2023, the two newcomers are presumably fighting with Weatherspoon and Wohlabaugh for the two starting offensive tackle spots.

“We all want to play, all want to start,” Betrand said. “Only five can start. But (offensive line coach Dale Williams) told us that he gonna play his best five, and people going to rotate and (you) just got to earn your spot.”

On the interior, Petry will likely stay as the starting right guard while Syracuse needs to fill Bradford’s void on the left side. Among returners, redshirt junior Joe Cruz seems most likely to take that spot, having notched 114 pass-blocking snaps at the position last year.

Meanwhile, with Reed and Ilaoa no longer with the program, there’s no player who stands out to become the starting center. Saturday’s spring game and Dale’s media availability later in the spring schedule will present better answers moving forward.

Demetres Samuel Jr.’s routine

The star of Syracuse’s spring training camp is two-way freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. Upon turning 17 on Wednesday, Johnson says Samuel asked him where he should go to celebrate.

“I was like, ‘Dude, what? You’re turning 17,’” Johnson said. “Like, what (do) you mean?”

While still four years away from the legal drinking age, Samuel is set to become one of the youngest college football players in the fall while playing defensive back and wide receiver.

“High school, it just felt too easy to me,” Samuel told reporters Wednesday. “I needed some more competition, so I came early.”

The news Samuel was practicing both ways broke when Collins mentioned it on March 21.

“I think I leaked that one,” Collins joked Friday.

“Other than mine, he probably has the hardest job on the team, studying both sides and both playbooks,” the quarterback added.

The next day, Samuel donned a white jersey with a blue pinnie over it. That day, defenders sported orange jerseys while non-quarterback offensive players wore white jerseys.

Then, two days later, Samuel wore a white jersey and ran routes with the wide receivers. On Wednesday, Samuel revealed he practices with offense on Mondays, defense on Wednesdays and dons the blue pinny when Syracuse has intra-squad scrimmages.

“He’s really talented, and he’s picking it up quick,” wide receiver Trebor Peña said. “So to be able to learn both sides, like the playbook and our defense, I gotta give my props to him. That’s tough.”

banned-books-01

Published on April 6, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon

Top Stories