Syracuse football is heading into 2026 with a different kind of buzz around it, and Fran Brown made sure Thursday at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C., that the message stayed simple: keep building, keep competing, and make sure the depth chart is ready.
Brown, as upbeat and quick with a line as ever, said the biggest lesson he’s learned in two-plus years running the Orange is “to have backup quarterbacks.”
That part, at least, is covered. The returning quarterback is back, the room has been expanded to six deep, and freshman Zaid Lott is sitting there as a potential future piece. Brown also spent the offseason adding new assistants on both sides of the ball, and by his account they’ve been rolling since winter.
The bigger issue for Syracuse now is turning last year’s collapse into something better. Brown has no interest in dwelling on the eight-game losing streak that ended the season. The focus, as he laid it out, is on what comes next.
Redshirt senior Steve Angeli looked healthy and sounded confident Thursday after his season-ending Achilles tendon injury. He also had plenty to like about the offense around him, especially after the way Syracuse started last season, when Angeli was leading the nation in passing and the Orange were 3-1 through four games.
There’s also optimism on the other side of the ball. Sophomores Antoine Deslauriers and Demetres Samuel Jr. represented the defense Thursday, and both praised new defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, whom they referred to as “Coach VK.” Samuel also made it clear he expects to see more time at wide receiver this season.
On offense, the question in Orange Nation is obvious: who steps up around Angeli? Syracuse has gone through graduations, transfers and injuries, and Brown said wide receiver Calvin Russell III is expected back at some point during the 2026 season after his Achilles injury.
Angeli pointed to a few names he likes in the passing game.
"I'm real excited for (senior tight end) David Clement, and E (Elijah) Moore (Florida State redshirt sophomore WR transfer) and Hatch (grad student WR Umari Hatcher) coming back from his injury (missed 11 of 12 games in 2025)," Angeli said of some of the most talented pass catching options he will have this season.
He also sounded confident about the rest of the offense, especially the depth in the backfield and the work up front.
"We have four to five guys in the running back room that can carry the rock and catch passes. Our offensive line has been absolutely stellar in the off-season (new OL coach, NFL veteran Juan Castillo was a steal for Brown to bring to the SU program). We're absolutely loaded with talent."
Brown’s favorite phrase, “Win the day,” still hangs over everything. And with preseason camp about two weeks away, his attention is already locked on the opener.
Syracuse opened Brown’s first season at home against MAC opponent Ohio and won convincingly. Last year brought a much tougher challenge, with ranked SEC team Tennessee in what was essentially a road game. This year, the Orange start at home against FCS New Hampshire, and Brown called it the most important game of the season until it’s over.
"Our first game is the most important game of the year," Brown said Thursday repeating his mantra.
He also said the Dome should be a real asset for Syracuse.
"Being able to play at home in the Dome, using the Dome as an advantage to us, because that's what it is, I feel happy about that. Having our guys go out and play, get rid of that aniexity and just compete."
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For Syracuse, the immediate interest is less about the headline and more about the depth chart. Steve Angeli is the likely starter for 2026, which makes the backup job a meaningful one, especially in a sport where one injury can change everything in a hurry. Nelson is expected to be in that mix, and the competition around him will tell the Orange plenty about how comfortable the staff feels with its quarterback room heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]