A bit of chatter for Syracuse football as possible landing spot for Ohio State transfer, former 5-star QB

On Wednesday night, word broke that Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, a former five-star quarterback in high school who held a Syracuse football scholarship offer, will not be considering Big Ten Conference school Nebraska after taking a visit to the Cornhuskers in recent days.

There was speculation that the 6-foot-3, 215-pound McCord might have possibly committed to Nebraska on that visit, but it didn’t happen.

Several media reports on Wednesday evening, including one from On3 college sports business and transfer portal reporter Pete Nakos, stated that McCord, a junior with the Buckeyes, is continuing to keep his options open while taking a look at other schools.

Mentioned by Nakos, 247Sports college football writer Tom Loy (and perhaps others) on Wednesday night was the ‘Cuse as it pertains to McCord. This doesn’t mean Syracuse football is necessarily a significant contender in his recruitment.

But it’s something to monitor for sure. Loy, for one, said via his X page, “I’m told to keep a very close eye on Syracuse and Kyle McCord.”

Syracuse football had recruited former five-star quarterback Kyle McCord a few years back.

Nakos, meanwhile, wrote in part, “Schools that could be looking for quarterbacks in the transfer market include Auburn, Duke, Louisville, Syracuse and Michigan. Kyle McCord will have to assess his options, however, Nebraska is not expected to be part of those plans.”

I had noted in another recent column that, per reports, the Orange coaching staff had reached out to McCord, who said via social media on December 4 that he was entering the NCAA’s transfer portal.

In the 2023 season at Ohio State, McCord completed nearly 66 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. The Buckeyes are 11-1 and will play Missouri in a top-10 battle on December 29 at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas.

National transfer rankings from several recruiting services have McCord in the top 50 overall, and 247Sports rates him as the No. 10 quarterback around the country in the portal.

The Orange offered a scholarship to McCord in May of 2018. As a member of the 2021 class, attending the St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, he was rated as five stars and in the top 30 nationally within his cycle, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

Besides going to prep school in Philadelphia, McCord is from Mount Laurel, N.J. New Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown and new defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson are long-time friends who grew up together in Camden, N.J., which is nearby both Philadelphia and Mount Laurel.

I’m sure that impressive suitors are going to line up for McCord, and it would be awesome if the Orange finds itself in the mix. As I noted on social media, between 2024 high school prospects and college transfers, Brown and his staff have made quick inroads to build up a strong wide receivers room at the ‘Cuse in the upcoming season and beyond.