Luke Carney Enters Transfer Portal After Limited Freshman Season at Syracuse
Syracuse’s quarterback room is about to get a little thinner. Freshman QB Luke Carney has officially entered the transfer portal after a brief but intriguing stint with the Orange.
Carney saw action in four games during his first year on campus, logging just 22 passing yards and 28 rushing yards. But his debut was one to remember - he took his very first college snap to the house for a rushing touchdown. It was a flash of the playmaking ability that made him a standout in high school, even if the full opportunity to showcase it at the college level never quite materialized.
Coming out of fall camp, Carney had climbed to third on the depth chart - no small feat for a true freshman. But when the quarterback carousel started spinning late in the season, he didn’t get the nod. After Steve Angeli went down with a torn Achilles and Rickie Collins was benched, it was walk-on Joe Filardi who ultimately stepped in as the starter.
There was a chance for Carney to start the season finale against Boston College, but Syracuse had already used him in the Notre Dame game the week before. That decision burned his redshirt eligibility for 2025 and ended his season - and his Orange career - with zero starts.
In total, Carney played 32 snaps for Syracuse this year, attempting just seven passes. It’s a small sample size, but it leaves the door wide open for his next chapter.
And that chapter could be a big one.
Carney was a decorated high school quarterback out of Dallas Christian in Texas. He led his team to four state titles and put up video game numbers: 10,787 passing yards, 111 touchdowns through the air, and another 3,119 yards and 42 scores on the ground. That kind of dual-threat production doesn’t just disappear - it’s the kind of résumé that’ll draw plenty of interest across the college football landscape.
With four full years of eligibility remaining, Carney now has the chance to reset and find a program that fits his skill set and development path. Whether he lands at a Power Five school looking for depth and upside or a Group of Five team in need of a dynamic starter, he’s going to be one to watch in the portal.
Syracuse, meanwhile, will continue reshaping its quarterback room heading into 2026, and Carney will look to turn the page - with plenty of football still ahead.