Syracuse’s 1-2 start has put next week’s game against Connecticut in sharp focus, and former Orange captain Jake Flaherty thinks the biggest decision may already be sitting on the bench.
Appearing on the Juice on the Cuse Podcast, presented by On SI and Bleav, Flaherty weighed in on where Syracuse stands heading into a matchup with bowl implications hanging over it. His biggest takeaway: the quarterback situation needs a look.
Senior quarterback Steve Angeli has had an uneven opening stretch, throwing for 731 yards while completing 55 percent of his passes. He has four touchdowns and five interceptions. Behind him, Amari Odom has flashed in limited action, including a second-half appearance against Pitt when he went 7 for 7 for 44 yards and helped lead Syracuse on a scoring drive.
Flaherty said that’s enough to earn Odom a real chance.
“As far as Odom coming into the game, what's not to like?” Flaherty said.
“The first drive, he was connecting with his targets, and you know can pull the ball down and run, which is a whole different dynamic when you put that into the to the mix. He also has a history of winning.
So I think you really need to give him a shot. You’ve got to win games here.”
While the offense has questions, Flaherty came away impressed by Syracuse’s defense. The Orange rank 23rd nationally in total defense, and Vince Kehres’ unit is giving up 258.7 yards per game. Flaherty said he saw enough in person during the Cal game in September to believe this group has real teeth.
“I saw a lot of great tackling,” Flaherty said. "I saw guys run into the ball, I saw guys being physical, both in the open field and in between the tackles.
I think I thought their linebackers are great and they cover their butts off. After the Cal game, I said, ‘This defense is for real.’”
Brad Bierman also discussed Syracuse basketball’s big recruiting news, with five-star 2027 forward Moussa Kamissoko committing on Friday. The heralded wing is Syracuse’s highest rated commitment since Carmelo Anthony in 2002.
In Other News...
Former Orange Playmaker Finally Broke Through In A Busy NFL Week
Week 3 brought a familiar kind of NFL snapshot for Syracuse fans, with a cluster of former Orange players showing up across the league and making their presence felt. Zaire Franklin led the way defensively for the Packers with 10 tackles, Matthew Bergeron helped steady the Falcons ground game, and Andre Szmyt stayed perfect for the Browns on field goals and extra points. Even beyond the headline names, Tommy DeVito, LeQuint Allen and Jackson Meeks all got on the field and chipped in during their games, a reminder of how many Syracuse products are now carving out roles on Sundays.
For Orange fans, though, the most interesting part of the week may have been watching a former playmaker finally break through after a long wait. In a league where chances can be scarce and momentum even scarcer, those first real signs of traction matter, especially for a player trying to turn brief appearances into something bigger. With so many Syracuse alumni in action, the broader theme was encouraging enough, but one of the weeks quiet breakthroughs felt like the one worth tracking a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Former Syracuse Standouts Just Landed A Real NBA Shot
Former Syracuse standouts William Kyle III and Cole Swider have both landed with the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of training camp, giving each a real shot to turn a summer opportunity into something more. For Orange fans, it is a familiar sort of NBA story: two players who took different paths through college, then found themselves in the same place with a chance to impress an organization that is always sorting through young talent and looking for useful depth.
Kyle brings a reputation built on defense after appearing in 131 college games, while Swider arrived in Syracuse as a scoring threat and averaged 13.9 points per game in his lone season there. Both are trying to earn a place on the Lakers roster, though the G-League is also part of the picture, and the next few weeks will determine whether this turns into a camp storyline or something a little more substantial. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Put Itself In Position For An Early QB Recruiting Win
Syracuse is trying to get ahead of the curve in the quarterback market, and its first offer in this cycle went to Philadelphia Belmont Charter signal-caller Nafis Watkins after he visited for Franchise Camp. The Orange gave Watkins a reason to remember the stop, and the young passer came away appreciative of the coaching staff and the program as he continues to build his profile.
Watkins already has the kind of early experience that tends to grab attention, having started as a freshman for a Belmont Charter team that finished 10-2 in 2025. For Syracuse, the pitch is simple: identify talent early, make the relationship count, and see whether the Orange can turn a camp visit into a head start in the recruiting race. [Read more 🡒]