Syracuse’s quarterback room has taken another hit, and this time it’s a season-ending one for Amari Odom.
Fran Brown said Thursday on his weekly radio show that Odom is done for the rest of the 2026 season after shoulder surgery. The Syracuse head coach also revealed that Malachi Nelson will miss several weeks after undergoing tightrope surgery to address a high-ankle sprain.
Odom transferred to SU from Kennesaw State and opened the year as the backup behind Steve Angeli. He got into the loss to Pitt in relief of Angeli, then made his first start in Syracuse’s 42-41 win over UConn on Oct.
- In three appearances, Odom completed 77.1% of his passes and threw for 398 yards and six touchdowns.
Nelson, who started the season as the Orange’s third-string quarterback, had stepped into the lineup for the last two games against Virginia and Louisville on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17.
He left both fourth-quarter losses because of injury. In his two starts, Nelson passed for 532 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 60.0% of his throws.
That leaves Syracuse with Angeli and Danny Lauter as the main quarterbacks available. Angeli opened the season as the starter, but he has not played since the loss to Pitt on Sept.
- He had been listed as questionable for Syracuse’s trip to North Carolina on Saturday, though Brown said he is on track to make his fourth start of the season.
Lauter, a transfer from Georgetown, has filled in behind Nelson in Syracuse’s last two games. He began the season as the fourth-string quarterback and has completed five of 11 passes for 74 yards this year.
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