Syracuse WR Darrell Gill Jr. Enters Transfer Portal After Up-and-Down Junior Season
Another key name is on the move in college football’s ever-active transfer portal - and this one hits close to home for Syracuse. Junior wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr., one of the Orange’s top playmakers over the past two seasons, is officially entering the portal, according to reports Monday night.
Gill’s decision comes after a junior campaign that started with promise but ended on a quieter note. He posted 506 receiving yards and five touchdowns this past season, building on a breakout sophomore year where he notched 570 yards despite sharing targets with veterans like Trebor Pena and Jackson Meeks. Gill established himself as a true deep threat during that 2024 campaign, with a monster performance against UConn - 185 receiving yards - that put him on the radar as one of the ACC’s emerging vertical weapons.
Fast forward to this fall, and Gill looked poised for a star turn. Teaming up with quarterback Steve Angeli and fellow receivers Johntay Cook and Justus Ross-Simmons, Gill wasted no time making noise. His two-touchdown, 152-yard showing against Colgate included a highlight-reel grab that landed him on ESPN’s “You Got Mossed” segment - the kind of national spotlight moment that can elevate a player’s profile in a hurry.
He followed that up with another touchdown in Syracuse’s road win at Clemson, showing off his ability to make plays in big-time environments. But the momentum didn’t last.
After Angeli suffered a season-ending injury, the Orange offense sputtered, and Gill’s production took a hit. Over the final eight games, he topped 50 receiving yards just once - a sharp drop-off that mirrored the team’s struggles down the stretch.
Just over a month ago, Gill had indicated he planned to return to Syracuse for the 2026 season. But in today’s college football landscape, plans change quickly - especially with the transfer portal offering players more flexibility than ever. Running back Yasin Willis also initially said he’d return, but he too now plans to enter the portal.
Gill’s departure adds to an increasingly thin wide receiver room for Syracuse. Jaylan Hornsby and Emanuel Ross are both expected to hit the portal when it opens on January 2, leaving the Orange with some serious questions at the position.
The staff did land a big-name recruit in five-star Calvin Russell III, who’s expected to contribute right away. But with Johntay Cook still undecided about his future, the group’s overall depth and experience are taking a major hit.
Gill’s exit marks the end of a dynamic, if uneven, chapter in his Syracuse career. When he was rolling, few defensive backs could keep up with him. Now, he’ll look to bring that explosiveness to a new program - and Syracuse, once again, will be tasked with reloading a receiver corps that’s seen a lot of turnover in a short span.