Syracuse Eyes Former West Florida QB Marcus Stokes in Transfer Portal Search
Syracuse is diving into the transfer portal with a clear mission: bolster the quarterback room. And one of the names on their radar is Marcus Stokes - a former four-star recruit who's looking for a second shot at the FBS level after a standout season at Division II West Florida.
Stokes, who’s set to visit Syracuse, put up video game numbers in 2025. He was named Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 30 touchdowns, rushing for 10 more, and averaging 275 passing yards per game. Those numbers aren’t just impressive - they speak to a quarterback who can make plays in and out of the pocket and carry an offense on his back.
His journey to this point has been anything but linear. Coming out of high school, Stokes was a highly touted four-star prospect.
He initially committed to Penn State before flipping to Florida in 2022. But his time in Gainesville never materialized.
Florida pulled his scholarship after a video surfaced of Stokes using a racial slur while reciting rap lyrics - a moment that derailed his FBS path and forced him to reset at West Florida in 2023.
Now, after a redshirt freshman season in which he threw for 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions over eight starts, Stokes is back on the radar of Power Five programs - and Syracuse is showing serious interest.
The Orange have good reason to be aggressive in the portal. The quarterback depth chart took a hit with the departures of freshmen Luke Carney and Jakhari Williams, both of whom entered the transfer portal. That leaves Syracuse with four scholarship quarterbacks - but the situation is far from stable.
Of those four, two have never taken a college snap. Another is still recovering from an injury and won’t be available for spring ball. The fourth was benched twice during the 2025 season and finished the year with more turnovers than touchdowns - not exactly the kind of performance that inspires confidence going into a new campaign.
Head coach Fran Brown has made it clear that Steve Angeli is expected to be the starter once he returns from an Achilles tear. Angeli has two years of eligibility remaining, which means any quarterback Syracuse brings in is likely signing up to be the backup - at least for 2026.
That’s a key detail for someone like Stokes. He’s already proven he can produce at the college level - albeit at Division II - and he’s got the pedigree of a former four-star recruit. But stepping into a backup role might not be the easiest sell for a player looking to re-establish himself on a bigger stage.
Still, Syracuse needs depth, and they need it fast. The transfer portal officially opens on January 2 and stays open for just two weeks. That’s a tight window to evaluate, recruit, and land the right fit - especially at quarterback, where chemistry and system fit matter just as much as raw talent.
Stokes brings a unique mix of upside and experience. He’s mobile, he’s got a live arm, and he’s already shown he can bounce back from adversity. Whether he ends up in Orange remains to be seen, but Syracuse’s interest signals that they’re not just looking for a warm body - they want someone who can step in and contribute if called upon.
The quarterback room in Syracuse is still taking shape, but one thing’s clear: the Orange are leaving no stone unturned.