Syracuse Football: 'Cuse has plenty of depth to overcome loss of leading WR from 2023

The loss of wide receiver Damien Alford, who led Syracuse football in receiving yards last season, does sting a bit, but the Orange has ample depth to overcome his departure from the program.

On Monday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the 6-foot-6, 210-pound Alford, a junior, will not return to the ‘Cuse for the upcoming 2024 season.

The native of Montreal, Quebec, plans to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, Thamel reports, citing a source.

First and foremost, Orange Nation is wishing nothing but great success to Damien in the future.

The leading WR for Syracuse football in 2023 is moving on.

This past term, when the ‘Cuse went 6-7 overall, Alford was second on the team in receptions, with 33. He was No. 1 in receiving yards, at 610, averaged 18.5 yards per catch, and tied for first on the Orange 2023 roster with three receiving touchdowns.

There’s no doubt that Alford has proven an experienced, veteran wide receiver for the Syracuse football program, so he will be missed.

Simultaneously, new head coach Fran Brown and his assistants should have plenty of weapons at tight end and wide receiver for presumed starting quarterback Kyle McCord, a four-star transfer who moved from Ohio State to the ‘Cuse for his senior year.

In terms of receiving options for McCord among Orange returnees, those expected back include former All-ACC performer and junior Oronde Gadsden II (tight end/wide receiver), who was injured for much of last season, redshirt freshman Donovan Brown, redshirt sophomore Umari Hatcher, redshirt sophomore Dan Villari (tight end), and sophomore running back LeQuint Allen Jr., who was a solid receiver in 2023.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Isaiah Jones did transfer to New Mexico, although Brown and his staff have brought in several WR transfers as well in four-star Georgia freshman Yazeed Haynes and three-star Georgia junior Jackson Meeks.

Among the ‘Cuse high school senior commits are three-star wide receiver Ta’Ron Haile of Millville Senior High School in Millville, N.J., three-star wide receiver Jaylan Hornsby of Winslow Township High School in Atco, N.J., four-star wide receiver Emanuel Ross of Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, N.J., four-star tight end/wide receiver Jamie Tremble of The Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners, Ga., three-star wide receiver/athlete Ja’Meer Thomas of Bennett High School in Buffalo, N.Y., three-star cornerback/wide receiver Malachi James of Burlington City High School in Burlington, N.J., and three-star defensive back/wide receiver Ibn McDaniels of Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, N.J.