Syracuse football didn't release a week-one depth chart earlier in the week, but the program did come out with one on Saturday, just a few hours before the Orange was set to face No. 24 Tennessee in Atlanta.
To me, the biggest surprise is that freshman Antoine Deslauriers will start at one of the linebacker spots. He won that job over redshirt senior Derek McDonald. That's a notable development. Gary Bryant III, a redshirt junior transfer from South Dakota, is the other starting LB.
The Orange's starting offensive line: Redshirt sophomore Trevion Mack at left tackle, redshirt senior TJ Ferguson at left guard, redshirt senior Austin Collins at center, redshirt junior Joe Cruz at right guard and redshirt senior Da'Metrius Weatherspoon at right tackle.
The team's starting wide receivers are junior Darrell Gill, junior Johntay Cook II and senior Justus Ross-Simmons. I thought maybe redshirt senior Umari Hatcher might start at wide receiver.
Syracuse football's week-one depth chart is out.
At running back, sophomore Yasin Willis is listed as the starter, but there is an "OR" next to redshirt senior Will Nixon. I anticipate that both running backs will get reps on Saturday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Orange's defensive line will be key as the 'Cuse tries to contain Tennessee's rushing attack. Starting on the edge for Syracuse football will be senior Denis Jaquez Jr. or senior Kevin Jobity Jr. Redshirt senior David Reese, the transfer from California, will start at "JACK," which is a hybrid outside linebacker and defensive end.
As expected, 17-year-old freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. will start at cornerback, as will Georgia transfer Chris Pearl, a redshirt sophomore.
Special teams will be vital for the 'Cuse in the 2025 season. The Orange's kicking game wasn't good a campaign ago. In week one, at placekicker, redshirt freshman Tripp Woody, a transfer from Iowa, has won the starting job over redshirt sophomore Jadyn Oh.
Fran Brown Jr., a redshirt sophomore and the son of Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown, is starting at long snapper, which is so freaking awesome.