Syracuse didn’t just survive a thin running back room Saturday. It found two answers.
With Ju’Juan Johnson and Ahmad Miller both out because of injuries, the Orange leaned on sophomore Tylik Hill and freshman Shavane Anderson Jr. in a 66-3 rout of New Hampshire, and the pair delivered in a big way. Hill carried 15 times for 90 yards and a touchdown. Anderson, making his first college appearance, needed only 10 rushes to pile up 102 yards and three scores.
That production mattered beyond the box score. It took pressure off quarterback Steve Angeli in his return from injury and gave Syracuse a much-needed lift in a backfield that had been turned over almost completely from last season. The Orange entered the year after losing starter Yasin Willis to Kansas and backup Will Nixon to the NFL Draft, then added Johnson from LSU and Miller from Jackson State while keeping Hill and bringing in Anderson as part of the freshman class.
The depth chart Monday already hinted at the situation, with Hill at the top, Penn State transfer Matt Outten listed at wide receiver, and Anderson right behind him. Brown later said both Johnson and Miller were dealing with injuries, and he thought Miller would be ready for the season opener against New Hampshire. But when kickoff came, neither dressed.
No matter. Hill and Anderson handled the load.
Hill set the tone early, breaking off a 22-yard run on Syracuse’s first drive and then adding another 24 yards on the next possession, which ended with an Umari Hatcher touchdown. Anderson answered with a burst of his own, ripping off a 37-yard run straight up the middle before bouncing outside to get Syracuse to first-and-goal. He finished that drive with a two-yard touchdown after bouncing off one UNH defender.
The scoring kept coming. Hill powered in for a two-yard touchdown on the next series, and Anderson followed by slicing left, shaking off two tackles and getting into the end zone inside the pylon with Angeli’s booming block helping spring the play. A few minutes later, Anderson was in again for his third touchdown.
“It’s just the next man up. I got the opportunity from all the older people going down. So once I got up there, I just had to step up, and that was a thing I had to do,” Anderson said postgame.
By then, Syracuse had already built a 41-0 lead, and 24 of those points came from two backs who might not have been expected to lead the way just a few weeks ago. Neither scored in the second half, but both kept adding yards before Outten and Malachi Coleman took over in the fourth quarter.
Brown said Monday that Johnson “probably won’t play” and would remain out until the middle of the week. He also made it clear he liked what he saw from the young backs stepping in.
“I think football teams that are growing to become a good program, that helps to still have guys that continuously step up,” Brown said postgame. “It helps guys not want to stay injured long. Got to hurry up and get back.”
Hill said he wasn’t surprised by Anderson’s breakout after watching him in camp.
“This is what he does in practice,” Hill said postgame. “He makes us all better in the room. So I wasn’t surprised seeing him do this today.”
Johnson and Miller may still be part of the mix next week against California. But if Syracuse needs depth again, Saturday showed Hill and Anderson are ready to carry it.
In Other News...
Steve Angeli Put Syracuse Fans Through A Brutal Opening Day Scare
Steve Angelis Syracuse debut was supposed to be a simple reintroduction after his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, but the opener against New Hampshire briefly turned into something far more nerve-racking for Orange fans. He had to work through two separate injury scares during the game, a jarring sight for a quarterback only just back on the field, even as Syracuse kept rolling toward a one-sided win.
Angeli stayed in the game and finished with 263 passing yards and three touchdowns as Syracuse cruised to a 66-3 victory. The result also kept alive a long-running bit of Orange consistency, with Syracuse remaining unbeaten against FCS opponents since 1978, but the bigger takeaway from opening day was simply that Angeli made it through intact. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got A Big Chance With One Of Its Top Local Targets
A familiar name is back on Syracuses recruiting radar, and this time the Orange get a real chance to make their case at home. Arthur Jones IV, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class and one of Syracuse footballs top local priorities, is set to come back for multiple games during the 2026 season, including the opener against New Hampshire. The Christian Brothers Academy junior has already built a long offer sheet, but Syracuse has been in the mix since extending an offer in June 2025.
For Syracuse, the appeal goes beyond the rankings. Jones grew up in the city and carries a family tie that already makes every step of his recruitment feel personal, with his father, former Syracuse standout Arthur Jones III, having passed away in October 2025. Getting him on campus for several games gives the Orange an extended runway to show him what the program, the atmosphere and the community can mean, and it keeps one of the areas most talented prospects close to home for now. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Fans Have One New Weapon Worth Watching In Week 1
Syracuses passing game has a new target to keep an eye on in Week 1, as Cole Weaver is lined up to make his debut against New Hampshire. The redshirt junior transferred in from Miami (Ohio) after leading that team in receptions last season, and he arrives with a reputation that fits what the Orange want from a reliable wideout: strong hands in traffic, willingness to block and a steady edge in how he carries himself.
Weaver was also honored as Miami (Ohio)s Offensive Skill Position Player of the Year, which gives Syracuse another proven piece to work into its offense right away. For a team still sorting out its identity early in the season, his first game offers a chance to see how quickly he can translate that production into a new system and whether he becomes the kind of dependable option quarterbacks lean on when plays break down. [Read more 🡒]