By Tony Thomas
Dino Babers is out and Fran Brown is in as the head man of the Syracuse football program. Brown, hired away from the 2-time national champion Georgia Bulldogs, is considered the top recruiter in college football, according to 247Sports.
Babers led the ‘Cuse to a 4-0 record to start the 2023 season, then they lost seven of their last nine games to finish the regular season at 6-6. After a loss to Georgia Tech, Babers was fired.
Heading into the 2024 season, Coach Brown has lived up to his recruiting superlatives by assembling a class of high school prospects and talented transfers that is rated the highest in 10 years. Among those talented transfers are three that will make a positive impact on Syracuse football in the fall.
QB Kyle McCord
Previous School: Ohio State Buckeyes
6’3”, 215 lbs.
As a first-year starter for the Buckeyes in 2023, Kyle McCord passed for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six INTs, while completing 66% of his passes and helping to lead Ohio State to an 11-2 record. Those numbers were good enough for #2 in the Big Ten. For is efforts, he was shown the fast lane out of Columbus by head coach Ryan Day.
Ohio State QB Kyle McCord has committed to Syracuse.
New Head Coach Fran Brown said he’d shock the country at Syracuse, and he’s already making waves 👀🍊 pic.twitter.com/UEQo2syATI
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) December 17, 2023
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McCord recorded four games of three passing touchdowns and 70% completion percentage. In addition, McCord went six consecutive weeks without throwing an INT (while throwing 12 TD passes over that stretch). As a result, McCord earned 2nd Team All-Big Ten honors.
S Devin Grant
Previous School: Buffalo Bulls
6’3”, 180 lbs.
Devin Grant was #2 on the Buffalo team in tackles last season with 79. In addition, Grant picked off five passes (#6 in FBS), broke up four passes, forced a fumble, and blocked two kicks. Three of those INTs came against Central Michigan, and two were returned for scores.
https://twitter.com/ojhodgkinson/status/1710748526722810130
Grant recorded three games of double-digit tackles: 10 vs. Akron, 11 vs. Bowling Green, and 11 vs. Eastern Michigan. For his outstanding performance, Grant was named 1st Team All-MAC.
Edge Fadil Diggs
Previous School: Texas A&M Aggies
6’5”, 240 lbs.
In 2023, Fadil Diggs recorded 36 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two pass breakups. Diggs follows his former coach Elijah Robinson to New York State. Robinson is the new Defensive Coordinator for the Orange.
Texas A&M DE Fadil Diggs wins the hand battle finishing with his speed to make a play! pic.twitter.com/LGt3ufFLWZ
— Robert Cardona (@CARDONAFAM29) July 21, 2023
Diggs’s best game came against Tennessee in which he made six tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and two QB pressures. Diggs is already making his presence felt from a leadership standpoint, helping the younger guys on the defense.
The ’Cuse returns 74% of their production from a season ago, which is the 3rd highest total in the ACC (and 10th in the nation). Syracuse returns several starters and/or key contributors, including All-ACC running back LeQuint Allen, Jr., TE Dan Villari, DB Jaeden Gould, and DB Jayden Bellamy. In addition, they will have the services of DB Duce Chestnut, who is transferring back from LSU. Chestnut was a 3rd Team All-ACC selection in 2021 at Syracuse…as a freshman.
With an older and experienced roster full of juniors and seniors, the buzz around the Gatorade cooler is that Syracuse could be the darling of the ACC in 2024, and McCord could be one of the top quarterbacks in the conference.
Brown implemented a new strength program to make the team more physical so they can manhandle opponents. Robinson has the defensive hanging out together constantly, building chemistry and learning to gel as cohesive unit.
The schedule is a favorable one that includes home games against Georgia Tech, Stanford, Va. Tech, and Miami, and road games vs NC State, Pitt, Boston College, and Cal.
With a 1st time head coach that is fired up to succeed, a supporting staff to help him get there, and experienced talent ready to paint the college football world orange, Syracuse could very well surprise their conference brethren and the media and take the ACC by storm in 2024.
