Takeaways from SU’s training camp: Collins as a backup, kicking up for grabs
Despite not being named the starting quarterback, Syracuse remains confident in Rickie Collins. Here are takeaways from SU's training camp. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Devin Grant didn’t think it was possible for Fran Brown to increase his intensity from last season. Brown doesn’t shy away from being a fiery figure. He made that clear during his first season with Syracuse, where it won 10 games for the first time since 2018.
To Grant’s surprise, Brown has taken his intensity up a notch in year two.
“He increased it tenfold because we have a new standard,” Grant said. “Last year was a good year, and we were happy with that outcome. But we want better, of course, so you got to raise the standard to get there. And that’s just all (Brown’s) been on.”
The expectations are high, and Brown isn’t letting up. His voice can be heard blaring through the loudspeakers during practice. He acts as a drill sergeant, barking out orders. A minor miscue from a player could elicit a scolding from the head coach.
It’s been like that since Syracuse’s summer camp began on July 31. With just over a week until their season-opener against No. 24 Tennessee in Atlanta, Georgia, the Orange have limited time to prepare.
Here are some takeaways from SU’s summer training camp:
Confidence in Collins as a backup
Four months ago, Rickie Collins looked like he was Syracuse’s quarterback of the future after Brown named him the starter following spring ball. However, instead of leading the offense onto the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf, Collins will watch from the sidelines.
The starting job now belongs to Steve Angeli. The former Notre Dame quarterback transferred to SU on April 23 and beat out Collins in a training camp competition. However, just because Collins isn’t the starter doesn’t mean SU’s coaching staff doesn’t have confidence in his ability.
“I’m excited to watch his growth, because I think when he gets comfortable with everything in the offense, I think he’s just going to skyrocket,” said SU wide receiver coach and passing game coordinator Myles White. “And sometimes you do have to wait. There seems to be this unwritten philosophy that you have to come in and play early as a freshman quarterback. And that’s not the case.”
White described Collins as a “resilient kid,” and the decision to start Angeli “hasn’t affected him at all.” Per White, the redshirt sophomore is the same guy every day but just needs more experience and practice reps.
“Rickie’s all about helping us win, so it was tough for him probably hearing that and listening to that, but he’s a grown man,” Brown said. “He’s a growing man, and he’s one play away from being our quarterback.”
Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli was recently named Syracuse’s starting quarterback. Nonetheless, SU’s coaching staff remains confident in LSU transfer Rickie Collins. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
Kicking job still up for grabs
Unlike the quarterback competition, Syracuse’s kicking battle between Jadyn Oh and Tripp Woody remains up in the air. Brown tipped Woody as the slight favorite but has yet to make a concrete decision.
“Tripp did a lot better this weekend. Oh was winning for a while, but Tripp lately has been more so just on point and doing the right thing,” Brown said. “He’s been just a little bit more solid when it comes to all the kicking.”
Woody, an Iowa transfer, didn’t attempt a kick during his freshman year, but Syracuse’s kicking was dire last season. Jackson Kennedy, Brady Denaburg and Oh combined to go just 13-of-22 on field goals, leaving much to be desired.
Oh is the only kicker remaining from last year’s trio, with Kennedy graduating and Denaburg transferring to Minnesota. Oh only made two of his five kicks last season, which is why a fresh face like Woody is being heavily considered to revamp the position group.
Brown noted that Oh was doing better on kickoffs, so both he and Woody may alternate those responsibilities, but right now Woody is in the driver’s seat for field goals.
“I personally believe, like with all specialists, kickers, punters, I think it’s more mental than anything,” Special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield said on Aug. 11. “I think it’s about the focus and the mental preparation coming into the game. They all have the ability to kick. They all have the technique, the skill set.”
Brumfield said they’re looking for a little bit more consistency from both Woody and Oh. He added he doesn’t think Syracuse can go wrong with either one of them, but that was before Brown explained Woody has the edge.
Receiver depth plentiful
Syracuse lost over 70% (3,417 yards) of its receiving production from last season. That number would’ve been lower if Trebor Peña decided to stay, but he transferred to Penn State in late April. Despite losing their presumed top receiver for the upcoming season, the Orange’s receiving room might be the deepest position on the roster.
Darrell Gill Jr. heads the group. The junior’s 570 yards from 2024 might not seem gaudy, but over half of that came in two of Syracuse’s final three games. If Gill continues that production, he has a chance to be Angeli’s top target.
There’s also Johntay Cook, a former four-star recruit coming out of high school, who has electric speed and big-play potential. He sparingly played at Texas before transferring from Washington this offseason due to off-field issues.
“He works hard and he wants to be great and it sheds through our room, especially the young guys,” White said of Cook. “They get to see a guy who’s got a lot of notoriety work as hard as he does and make the plays that he does. I’m excited about what he can do and how he can help our offense.”
Justus Ross-Simmons was hampered by a hamstring injury for the majority of last season but has enjoyed a healthy spring and fall training camp. Paired with redshirt freshmen Jaylan Hornsby and Emanuel Ross, the Orange have plenty of weapons on the outside.
Demetres Samuel Jr. could also be an X-factor. The freshman will start at cornerback for SU but will take snaps at receiver this season, where he can be a dynamic playmaker.
Kyle McCord loved spreading the ball around last year, with five different players recording at least 500 yards. It’s uncertain whether Angeli will spread the wealth in the same way, but he certainly has the options to do so.
Continuity on the back end
Syracuse has continuity with its two starting safeties, Duce Chestnut and Grant. The duo was paired together last season and remains the backbone of SU’s defense, which has plenty of new faces after losing battle-tested players like Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax.
Grant said he and Chestnut take pride in the safeties being the Orange’s best position group. He added that, through their experience together last season, the duo feels well-equipped to lead what he wants to be one of the best secondaries in the country.
“We definitely got to build our connection and build our chemistry. I know more of (Chestnut’s) strengths and weaknesses and stuff, and he knows more of my strengths and weaknesses,” Grant said. “It’s more of a bond. I can easily tell him, ‘You’re slacking. Let’s pick it up,’ and he can do the same thing for me. Us being both leaders in that back end, it’s just a great thing to have.”
Grant mentioned the entire secondary excels at swarming to the ball and communicating with each other. It stems from it being a close group off the field as well, he said, fueled by video game battles, whether it’d be Call of Duty or Madden.
Time will tell if that chemistry will translate to on-field success.
