Syracuse Football: At quarterback, ‘Cuse has some exciting things brewing

I get that Syracuse football missed out on a bowl in the 2021 campaign, losing three games in a row to end the season at a somewhat disappointing 5-7.

However, I have to say that I’m really pumped about some developments that are transpiring for the Orange as the team engages in recruiting efforts via the high-school circuit and the collegiate transfer portal.

I recognize that the team’s 2022 class isn’t highly rated by any means, but I believe there are a bunch of real gems in this cycle for the ‘Cuse.

Plus, numerous key players from 2021 are returning next season, whether it’s star running back Sean Tucker, stellar linebacker Mikel Jones, exquisite cornerback Garrett Williams, record-breaking placekicker Andre Szmyt and others.

Oh, and head coach Dino Babers brought in a Super Bowl-winning coach in Bob Ligashesky as special teams coordinator, as well as the tandem that had led Virginia’s high-powered 2021 offense, offensive coordinator Robert Anae and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck.

As I said in a chat a few days ago with the Orange Nation fellas on ESPN Radio Syracuse, a lot of great stuff is going on for Syracuse football. This brings me to the quarterback room.

Syracuse football, at QB, has secured a huge commitment and made a big offer.

The ‘Cuse program bolstered its quarterback depth when Dan Villari, a transfer from Michigan, recently said on social media that he was committing to the Orange.

The 6-foot-4 Villari, who hails from New York state, had been the third-stringer for the Wolverines in 2021 and will have four seasons of eligibility remaining.

While he barely got any snaps in the recently completed campaign, Villari was part of a Michigan program that captured the Big Ten Conference championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff.

We’ll have to wait and see how this all plays out, but I imagine that Villari will seriously contend for the starting job at quarterback for the Orange. Other QBs on the ‘Cuse roster include incumbent starter Garrett Shrader, himself a transfer from Mississippi State, as well as true freshman Justin Lamson and second-year freshman JaCobian Morgan.

Villari was a three-star prospect out of Plainedge High School in Massapequa, N.Y. As a member of the 2020 class, he was ranked No. 1,225 overall by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 42 pro-style quarterback and the No. 12 player in New York.

Additionally, Syracuse football has offered a scholarship to 2023 three-star, dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers, according to his Twitter page.

The 6-foot-2 Sellers, a junior at South Florence High School in Florence, S.C., verbally committed to Virginia this past July, per recruiting services.

However, the Cavaliers saw Anae and Beck depart for Central New York. And in early December, Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall resigned.

As such, it wouldn’t come as a total shock if Sellers ends up reopening his recruitment. His other offers include from Virginia Tech, Washington State, Appalachian State and Georgia State, according to recruiting services.

At the time of this writing, the 247Sports Composite rated Sellers at No. 485 overall in the 2023 class, No. 29 at the dual-threat quarterback position, and No. 5 in South Carolina.

There’s no guarantee that the ‘Cuse will pick up Sellers, but if he does reopen his recruiting process back up, it would seem logical that Syracuse football would have a good chance to win out.