Mercer transfer quarterback Braden Atkinson, a freshman All-American at the FCS level this past season, is visiting Syracuse football on Wednesday, a source confirmed to me. This news was first reported by 247Sports.
Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson (@Braden_Atkinson) is set to visit Syracuse today, his agent @gsheen23 tells @CBSSports.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 7, 2026
This year he totaled 3,611 passing yards & 34 TDs . He won the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the FCS' top freshman. https://t.co/KUpzDhNenp… pic.twitter.com/KdQnm2h9qJ
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Atkinson, who hails from Rolesville, N.C., is one of several transfer quarterbacks who have either visited the Orange already or plan to soon. The transfer portal is open from January 2 to January 16.
Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown has said that he wants his 2026 quarterback room to consist of redshirt junior Steve Angeli, the Orange's starter in 2025 until he got injured this past September, along with two transfers and incoming three-star freshman Zaid Lott from Charlotte, N.C.
Mercer QB Braden Atkinson is drawing interest from Notre Dame, Syracuse, Baylor, Boston College and Cal, his rep @gsheen23 of @AiC_Athletes tells @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) January 4, 2026
He totaled 3,611 passing yards and 34 TDs in 2025. Also won the Jerry Rice Award, which is awarded to the most… pic.twitter.com/iEbSSQSCCj
On3's Pete Nakos first reported on January 4 via his X page that the 'Cuse staff was showing an interest in Atkinson, along with other teams such as Notre Dame, Baylor, Boston College and California.
Syracuse football is hosting FCS All-American QB Braden Atkinson on a visit.
This past season, Mercer went 9-3 overall and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs. As a freshman, Atkinson completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,596 yards with 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
For his efforts in 2025, Atkinson was named a freshman All-American by FCS Football Central. He finished in the top five of the voting for the 2025 Walter Payton Award, which goes out annually to the top offensive player in FCS football.
What's more, Atkinson claimed the 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which every year honors the national freshman player of the year in FCS football. For this honor, Atkinson picked up 51 of 54 first-place votes, and he is the first Southern Conference athlete to capture the prestigious award.
On Wednesday, in transfer rankings from 247Sports, Atkinson was three stars, No. 361 overall and No. 32 at quarterback. On3's transfer ratings, meanwhile, place him as three stars, No. 250 nationally and No. 26 at quarterback.
There is a lot of visit activity to the Hill among transfer QBs, and it will be interesting to see which quarterback - or quarterbacks - Syracuse football ultimately lands.