Syracuse is still a couple of weeks away from the official start of training camp for the 2026 season, but one of the Orange’s transfer additions is already drawing national attention.
That player is tight end Noah Meyers, who arrived this offseason after a productive year at Western Kentucky. At the ACC’s Media Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C., Syracuse alum and national college football reporter Pete Thamel singled him out when asked by Syracuse Athletics host Sean Dorcellus about the Orange player to watch this season.
“He was really productive there last year (Western Kentucky). Thirty catches for a tight end which is a high number.
Three touchdowns. I think he'll be a safety blanket for Steve Angeli.
I think he'll make some noise for the Orange this year.”
Meyers, a 6-foot-5 redshirt junior from Louisville, Ken., is entering his fourth year of college football and his first season in Central New York. He redshirted in 2023, his freshman season, though he did appear in three games for the Hilltoppers. Under NCAA rules, playing in fewer than four games preserves a season of eligibility.
He’ll be part of a tight end group that includes returning players David Clement, Daunte Bacheyie and Elijah Washington-Baker. Those three combined for fewer than 10 catches and fewer than 100 total yards last season. Freshman Wyatt Bowman and Carter Bashir are also on the roster.
Meyers is one of several transfer additions Syracuse brought in this offseason as Fran Brown and his staff worked extensively in the portal to add both depth and impact. With the Orange coming off a 3-9 season, the roster has a different feel this year, especially with quarterback Steve Angeli back in the fold and a mix of newcomers ready to push for roles.
The tight end spot has been a productive one for Syracuse under Brown. Dan Villari was a key piece last season, finishing with 39 catches for 412 yards, plus 17 rushing attempts for 55 yards and a touchdown. Villari signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in April.
Before that, Orande Gadsden II delivered a huge 2024 campaign for the Orange, earning Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC honors. He caught 73 passes for 934 yards and seven touchdowns in his final season at Syracuse, then went to the Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Gadsden had 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns, with all three numbers ranking among the top five for NFL rookie tight ends.
In Other News...
Why Syracuse Fans Should Be Excited About Keyshawn Johnson
Syracuse added a proven edge threat in Keyshawn Johnson, a senior linebacker who arrives for the 2026 season after stops at Grambling State and UT Martin. His track record in the FCS makes him one of the more intriguing newcomers on the roster, especially for a defense looking to create more disruption off the edge.
Johnsons appeal goes beyond just being a veteran transfer. He comes in with FCS All-American recognition and a reputation as a productive pass rusher, which should give Syracuse a real boost in passing situations. The next question is how quickly he settles into the role the Orange have in mind and just how much he can change the look of their rush package. [Read more 🡒]
What Summer League Just Revealed About Syracuse's NBA Hopefuls
Seven former Syracuse players spent part of the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, giving Orange fans a scattered but useful look at where a handful of recent alumni stand in the pro pipeline. William Kyle, Nate Kingz, Buddy Boeheim, Jesse Edwards, Chris Bell, Quadir Copeland and Maliq Brown all logged minutes across multiple games, and the results ranged from quiet cameos to stretches that suggested there is still some NBA-level intrigue in the group.
For Syracuse, the bigger takeaway is less about one hot night than about how hard the final roster climb remains for most of these players. The Vegas run offered a snapshot of who can hang, who needs more polish and who may have done enough to keep his name in the conversation a little longer, with Brown still the most interesting case to watch as teams sort through the last openings before Opening Night. [Read more 🡒]
Boeheim's Army Brings Back Some Of Syracuse's Most Unforgettable Moments
Boheheims Army is back in action this week, and for Syracuse fans it is less about a summer tournament bracket than a reminder of how many familiar faces still carry the Oranges most vivid memories with them. The Syracuse alumni team opens a three-game TBT series against Hall In, Seton Halls alumni squad, from July 21-24, with Game 1 at Walsh Gym on Seton Halls campus and live on FS1.
The roster brings together six former Syracuse players whose college runs each left a mark in their own way, from big scoring nights to tournament momentum that helped define eras. Buddy Boeheim, Jimmy Boeheim, Cole Swider, Wes Johnson and the rest give this group a built-in connection to some of the programs most recognizable moments, which is part of what makes these alumni showcases feel more like a reunion than a one-off game, even before the first tip. [Read more 🡒]