2023/2024 Transfer Portal Recap – Syracuse

By Mark Pszonak

With action in the transfer portal slowing down, it is time to take a closer look at how each P4 school did during this cycle. Up now are the Syracuse Orange

The skinny: With the Dino Babers era concluded at Syracuse, the focus is now on new head coach Fran Brown , who arrives after coaching the defensive backs at Georgia. As expected, plenty of roster changes occurred after his hire, and with the help of the portal the Orange have become an intriguing team in the ACC. Coach Brown is known as an ace recruiter, but now he will also have to prove that he can be the man-in-charge in his first opportunity.

Total # entries into portal: 33

Total # of scholarship players who entered portal: 27

Number of scholarship players who withdrew: 0

Key losses: LB Leon Lowery (Wisconsin), LB Stefon Thompson (Nebraska), WR Damien Alford (Utah), DL Kevon Darton (Arizona)

Key additions: QB Kyle McCord (Ohio State), WR Zeed Haynes (Georgia), DL Fadil Diggs (Texas A&M), DB Devin Grant (Buffalo), DB Duce Chestnut (LSU), OL Joshua Miller (Georgia)

Final thoughts: Syracuse made an immediate splash in the portal by adding Kyle McCord to run their offense. McCord may have had a few issues at Ohio State last season, but he still brings experience and confidence to the position. To further help the offense, the Orange added Zeed Haynes , one of three Georgia players who followed Brown to upstate New York. Haynes excelled during the spring and should become a consistent contributor this season. Defensively, the top addition was Fadil Diggs , who should provide a needed pass rusher to the unit. On top of that, the secondary received a big boost with the additions of Duce Chestnut and Devin Grant . While there are still several questions regarding the Orange coming into the season, Coach Brown has been able to quickly position the roster to a place where there is once again excitement in update New York surrounding the program.