Syracuse’s linebacker room looks like one of the strongest parts of the roster, and the Orange have no shortage of bodies who can make life miserable for opposing offenses.
Antoine Deslauriers sits at the center of it all. After a standout freshman season, he’s positioned to build on that momentum in 2025 and remain one of the key pieces in the group.
He already showed plenty as a true freshman, playing in every game at inside linebacker and finishing tied for the team lead with 60 tackles. He also held up in coverage, adding two pass breakups.
The room got another boost with the arrival of defensive coordinator Vince Kehres from Toledo, along with former Rockets linebacker Chris D’Appolonia. D’Appolonia brings experience and a working knowledge of Kehres’ playbook, and that familiarity should matter right away. Kehres also began building relationships with the players early in his time at Syracuse, Deslauriers said this spring.
Gary Bryant is another returning name who should be in the mix. He was steady next to Deslauriers last season and matched him with 60 tackles in his first season at SU in 2025. The former South Dakota linebacker also added four tackles for loss, and if he doesn’t win a starting job, he still looks set for plenty of snaps.
David Omopariola gives Syracuse another player worth watching. He’s viewed as someone who could pop this season, and his production last year backed that up: 32 tackles and a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss. He also has the kind of reputation that stands out in a locker room, which only adds to the buzz around him.
Keyshawn Johnson is another addition who could turn into a factor. He came to Syracuse with one year of eligibility remaining and brings a long résumé from UT Martin and Grambling State. A former FCS All-American, he has more than 100 tackles and 22 sacks in his career, and he could push for a starting role before long.
Tremble also gives the Orange useful depth. He played in 12 games last season and finished among the team leaders with three sacks.
The redshirt junior followed that with a 2025 season in which he had 10 total tackles and one tackle for loss. He appeared in every game and posted a career-best three tackles against Georgia Tech, which points to a reliable rotation piece.
Between the returning production and the new faces, Syracuse has real depth at linebacker, and that group should be one of the Orange’s biggest strengths.
In Other News...
Gerry McNamara Just Sent Syracuse Fans An Early Rebuild Signal
Gerry McNamara is already shaping Syracuses next roster with an eye on both the present and what comes after it, and the early signs point to a program trying to stay competitive without losing sight of the long game. The Orange have landed Jack Donohue, a 6-foot-8 three-star prospect from Massachusetts in the Class of 2027, a move that fits the idea of building out the front end of the pipeline while the staff continues working the current schedule and the broader shape of the team.
There is also more immediate roster business still hanging over the season, with Syracuse adding Cornell to the non-conference slate and finalizing other games around it. At the same time, the possibility of player departures after this year remains part of the conversation, which is why McNamaras approach feels like more than just a recruiting note. It reads as a signal that Syracuse is planning for both the lineup it has now and the one it may need to assemble soon after. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Leaders Think This Orange Team Is Far Better Than Expected
Syracuse is heading into its third season under Fran Brown with a different feel around the program, and sophomore linebacker Antoine Deslauriers sounds like one of the players helping drive it. He is expected to take on a bigger leadership role this fall, and he pointed to the arrival of new defensive coordinator Vince Kehres as a reason the Orange have been able to settle in and play with more speed and comfort on that side of the ball.
That matters because the outside expectations are still low, with Syracuse picked to finish 14th in the ACC. Deslauriers, though, has made it clear he believes the team is better than that forecast suggests, and his confidence reflects a defense that believes it has made real progress heading into the season. The question now is whether that internal belief shows up once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Fran Brown Is Already Leaning Into Syracuses Underdog Season
Fran Brown did not flinch at the way Syracuse was slotted in the ACC preseason chatter, and in some ways that is exactly the point. After a 3-9 finish last year, the Orange are being asked to prove they can climb out of the conference basement, but Brown sounded eager to use the low expectations as fuel as the season approaches.
Syracuse opens on Sept. 5 against New Hampshire, giving Brown and his team an early chance to show whether the outside skepticism is justified or badly misplaced. On the hoops side, Gerry McNamara already added Class of 2027 recruit Jack Donohue as the basketball program gets ready to tip off on Nov. 2, another reminder that there is plenty of Syracuse optimism to track across campus even as the football team tries to change its narrative first. [Read more 🡒]