Syracuse made a strong first impression on 2029 quarterback Nafis Watkins, and the Philadelphia (PA) Belmont Charter prospect came away from June’s Franchise Camp with his first offer in hand.
Watkins said the Orange can be more than a football stop for him.
“Syracuse can help me on and off the field with becoming a better man,” Watkins said to The Juice Online.
The offer came from quarterbacks coach Mike Gillespie, who Watkins said stood out immediately.
"Great guy,” Watkins said. "Someone with a lot of knowledge.”
Watkins already had some familiarity with Syracuse before the recruitment picked up. In 2024, he followed SU and quarterback Kyle McCord as the offense rolled to a 10-3 record.
McCord finished that season leading the NCAA in passing with 4,779 yards, placed 10th in Heisman voting, and was later drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. He now serves as the primary backup for the Miami Dolphins.
Because McCord played high school football in Philadelphia, Watkins felt an even stronger connection once Syracuse entered the picture.
“(McCord) had a lot of success at Cuse,” Watkins said.
Gillespie told Watkins he could follow a similar path in Syracuse’s offense, where offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon gives the quarterback plenty of freedom to make decisions.
“We spoke about school and everyday life,” Watkins said.
On the field, Watkins showed plenty to like at Franchise Camp. His arm strength and accuracy stood out, and as a rising sophomore he already looks like a player with real room to grow into a top high-major prospect.
He also said he enjoyed working with the coaching staff, getting around campus, and touring the facilities.
Belmont Charter went 10-2 in the 2025 season with Watkins starting at quarterback as a freshman. The year ended in the playoffs with a loss to Bishop Guilfoyle, and Watkins said his focus now is on tightening up a few areas as his sophomore season gets going.
"My accuracy as a passer,” Watkins said. "Being able to perform in big moments.”
Said Watkins: "Pocket passer with a very high IQ for the game."
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
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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 Still Has A Path Out Of This Frustrating Start
The frustration around Syracuses rough start has been easy to understand, especially after the Orange kept running into the same self-inflicted problems in recent losses. Drives have stalled when the offense gets into the red zone, opponents have found too many answers on third down, and the turnover and penalty margins have put Syracuse in tougher spots than it needs to be. Even so, the season picture is not beyond repair if the Orange can simply tighten the details that have repeatedly swung games the wrong way.
There are reasons to think the climb out is still possible, from potential lineup changes to the idea that cleaner play could immediately change the tone. The larger issue is urgency, because the margin for error has already narrowed and Syracuse cannot afford to keep leaving scoring chances on the table while giving opponents extra possessions and easy yards. The next stretch will say plenty about whether this is just a bad opening or the kind of start that lingers. [Read more 🡒]