Week 1 is almost here, and Syracuse fans finally get a real game to lock onto when the Orange open against New Hampshire on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern in the JMA Wireless Dome. One name worth tracking right away: wide receiver Cole Weaver.
Weaver arrives in Syracuse as a redshirt junior wearing No. 11 and bringing a reputation as a big target who can win tough catches. He also comes with a nod from quarterback Steve Angeli, who points to him not just as a strong one-on-one option, but as a receiver who can help in the run game as a blocker.
The background is solid, too. Weaver spent the last two seasons at Miami (Ohio) and enters his first year with the Orange after a productive 2024 campaign.
He led the RedHawks with 45 receptions, earned Miami Ohio Offensive Skill Position Player of the Year honors, and finished with 642 receiving yards and a touchdown. In the MAC Championship Game against Western Michigan, he added three catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.
But what really stands out is the personality. Weaver has been described by teammates and coaches as a high-energy presence, and that doesn’t stop when he walks off the field.
At his most recent press conference, he showed up in a Dennis Rodman shirt, said he’s trying to get into fashion, and talked excitedly about puppy yoga. That kind of energy has helped him build chemistry with Angeli, something Weaver says has come naturally as the two spend time together away from practice.
Weaver even gave a glimpse of what fans might see after a big play. He called himself "a lot of fun", said he likes to dance and celebrate with teammates, and noted that while most of it happens on the fly, he keeps a couple moves ready for the right moment.
If Syracuse gets the kind of day it wants against New Hampshire, Weaver could be part of the fun - and maybe part of the celebration, too.
In Other News...
Steve Angeli Put Syracuse Fans Through A Brutal Opening Day Scare
Steve Angelis Syracuse debut was supposed to be a simple reintroduction after his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, but the opener against New Hampshire briefly turned into something far more nerve-racking for Orange fans. He had to work through two separate injury scares during the game, a jarring sight for a quarterback only just back on the field, even as Syracuse kept rolling toward a one-sided win.
Angeli stayed in the game and finished with 263 passing yards and three touchdowns as Syracuse cruised to a 66-3 victory. The result also kept alive a long-running bit of Orange consistency, with Syracuse remaining unbeaten against FCS opponents since 1978, but the bigger takeaway from opening day was simply that Angeli made it through intact. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got A Big Chance With One Of Its Top Local Targets
A familiar name is back on Syracuses recruiting radar, and this time the Orange get a real chance to make their case at home. Arthur Jones IV, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class and one of Syracuse footballs top local priorities, is set to come back for multiple games during the 2026 season, including the opener against New Hampshire. The Christian Brothers Academy junior has already built a long offer sheet, but Syracuse has been in the mix since extending an offer in June 2025.
For Syracuse, the appeal goes beyond the rankings. Jones grew up in the city and carries a family tie that already makes every step of his recruitment feel personal, with his father, former Syracuse standout Arthur Jones III, having passed away in October 2025. Getting him on campus for several games gives the Orange an extended runway to show him what the program, the atmosphere and the community can mean, and it keeps one of the areas most talented prospects close to home for now. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse's Opener Is Already Testing New Offensive Pieces
Syracuses season opener at the JMA Wireless Dome has already started to show how the offense may need to adapt around its newest pieces and its missing ones. The Orange were up 14-0 after the first quarter against New Hampshire, with early drives getting a boost from Umari Hatcher and Shavane Anderson Jr. even as several players were unavailable, including transfer backs JuJuan Johnson and Ahmad Miller along with defensive linemen Isaiah Hastings and Nathan Nyandoro.
Those absences matter because they force Syracuse to sort through its backfield options right away, rather than easing into the rotation over the first few weeks. Hatcher and Anderson have helped set the tone so far, but the opener is already giving the Orange a look at how much they can lean on the next group of running backs and whether the offense can keep finding balance while pieces are still settling in. [Read more 🡒]