Syracuse football kept stacking up preseason recognition this week, and the latest honors reached well beyond the usual all-conference chatter.
Eight Orange players landed on the Shrine Bowl 1,000 Watch List, a national preseason nod that puts them among the draft-eligible players drawing attention ahead of the 2026 season. The group includes Tunmise Adeleye, Steve Angeli, Joe Cruz, Chris D'Appolonia, Keyshawn Johnson, Trevion Mack, Noah Meyers and Chris Peal.
The Shrine Bowl carries real weight in that conversation. The East-West Shrine Bowl is the oldest college football All-Star game in the country, and it serves as a senior showcase for NFL Draft hopefuls.
This year’s game is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2027, at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. While the roster itself is reserved for seniors, the watch list is broader, highlighting the top 1,000 draft-eligible players across college football who are considered NFL-caliber.
Peal’s inclusion adds another layer to what has already been a strong preseason run for Syracuse. Earlier this week, he and seven teammates were among the players to earn the Shrine Bowl Watch List honor, while three Syracuse players were also picked for preseason All-ACC teams by a national magazine. Peal has also been showing up in national 2027 NFL mock drafts as a first-round projection.
For now, though, all of that recognition is just the backdrop. Syracuse still has to play the season, and training camp is right around the corner. The Orange are less than three weeks away from reporting, with camp set to open in August.
The regular season opener is scheduled for Sept. 5 inside the JMA Wireless Dome, where Syracuse will host New Hampshire at 12 p.m. ET.
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Boeheims Army Wins Again As Syracuse Pride Marches On
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The win sends Boeheims Army into the semifinal round, where the next test comes against La Familia, Kentuckys entry, in a winner-take-all game. For a roster that has already shown it can handle the pressure of TBTs unique format, the bigger question now is whether Syracuses pride can keep marching for one more night. [Read more 🡒]