Syracuse Football: Top expert digs 'Cuse running-back room and here's why I concur

In the upcoming 2024 season, the Syracuse football offense should prove much more balanced than a term ago, and it should be a lot of fun to watch.

This off-season, a lot of attention, understandably so, has focused on the Orange's passing attack for 2024, buoyed by rising senior quarterback Kyle McCord, a four-star transfer from Ohio State, and his array of talented wide receivers and tight ends to target in the upcoming campaign.

At the same time, I adamantly believe that the 'Cuse ground game is going to be excellent in 2024. On paper, Syracuse football has solid depth at the running-back position.

Speaking of that, not too long ago, in late May, word broke that Will Nixon would transfer from Washington to the Orange. The sophomore running back, who is the son of 'Cuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, averaged 6.1 yards per carry in the 2023 season, when the Huskies reached the championship game of the College Football Playoff.

Let's look at the Syracuse football running-back group for the 2024 campaign.

Here's what the Orange's running-back room entails for the upcoming season:
•Rising junior LeQuint Allen Jr.
•Rising junior Will Nixon
•Incoming freshman Yasin Willis
•Incoming freshman Jaden Hart
•Rising redshirt freshman Tyler Chandler

Allen, in 2023 as a sophomore, rushed for more than 1,000 yards and was named to the All-ACC second team. He's poised for another big season as a junior, and I assume he'll once again be the team's starting running back.

Nixon, for Washington a term ago, carried the ball 33 times for 201 yards and one score. He's also a capable receiver, having hauled in 13 receptions for 84 yards in 2023, per ESPN data.

Top ESPN writer David Hale, who extensively covers the Atlantic Coast Conference, noted in a recent post on X that Willis "was one of the most impressive guys" during the team's spring practices.

Willis, out of the Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, N.J., was rated in the 2024 class as four stars, No. 204 nationally, No. 11 at running back and No. 2 in New Jersey, according to Rivals.com.

For additional depth, the 'Cuse also has 2024 three-star running back Jaden Hart out of Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Ind., and Tyler Chandler, who took a redshirt in the 2023 season and previously suited up for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

As Hale said in his recent social media post, "LeQuint Allen, Will Nixon and Yasin Willis is gonna be a fun group of runners for Cuse this year."

I totally agree, David.