Syracuse is heading into the season with two linebackers earning national attention for reasons that go far beyond the box score.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman released his annual preseason list of college football’s “freakiest” athletes on Monday, and Syracuse landed a pair of names inside the top 60. Transfer linebacker Chris D’Appolonia checked in at No. 45, while second-year starter Antoine Deslauriers came in at No. 52.
D’Appolonia is back on the list for the second straight year. He was ranked No. 37 a year ago and went on to post an All-MAC Third Team season at Toledo. Feldman also noted that he thrived in pass coverage under Vince Kehres, an area where Syracuse’s linebackers struggled last season.
The numbers behind D’Appolonia are eye-catching: 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, a 37-inch vertical jump, a top speed of 21.67 mph, a 375-pound bench press and a 565-pound squat.
Deslauriers, meanwhile, has been drawing attention for a while. He first turned heads as a high school recruit thanks to Instagram photos that showed off a rare physique for someone his age, and he frequently posts workout and training advice on his Instagram page.
He was one of Syracuse’s brighter spots last season and collected Freshman All-American honors from a number of organizations. Feldman listed him at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, with a top speed of 21.48 mph, a 34-inch vertical jump, a 390-pound bench press and a 500-pound squat.
Feldman also said Syracuse linebacker Jamie Tremble was close to making the list. The third-year player was clocked at 23 mph and posted a 36-inch vertical, a 330-pound bench press and a 475-pound squat.
South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor was named the freakiest athlete in the country, with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith right behind him.
Among Syracuse’s opponents, Notre Dame had the most players on the list with four. North Carolina State and Virginia each had two.
No ACC team had more than two players ranked, and Miami offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell was the highest-rated ACC player at No. 4 overall.
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Syracuse Defense Just Earned An Early Camp Reason For Belief
Syracuses defense has found an early talking point in camp, and it comes from a pair of linebackers whose physical profiles are already drawing national attention. Chris DAppolonia, the Toledo transfer, and sophomore Antoine Deslauriers were both included on Bruce Feldmans 2026 college football freak list, a nod to players whose testing and athletic traits stand out even before the season starts. For a defense looking to establish itself early in preseason, that kind of recognition offers a useful sign that the front seven may have more than just experience going for it.
DAppolonias offseason improvement in his vertical jump and strength numbers adds to the intrigue around what he can bring after arriving from Toledo, while Deslauriers is back after a freshman year that ended with a program tackle record for a first-year player. Syracuse continues through preseason practices, with media access coming in the next sessions, which should provide a clearer look at how those two fit into the linebacking picture. For now, though, the Orange have already picked up a little outside validation that their defense has real camp momentum. [Read more 🡒]
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