Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown and his staff look to hit the transfer portal hard when it opens for business on January 2, running through January 16.
Positions of need include, but are not limited to, quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive and defensive line, linebacker and defensive back. Wait, did I basically just list every position in football? Lol.
All kidding aside, things could move quickly for the Orange staff in terms of locking in college transfers to visit the Hill soon and, potentially, commit to the 'Cuse.
Here are five college transfers who we could see pledge to Syracuse football as the portal opens.
Marcus Stokes, quarterback
Redshirt sophomore at Division II West Florida
247Sports transfer rankings: Three stars, No. 212 overall and No. 23 at QB
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Stokes will reportedly visit the Orange during the weekend of January 3. In the 2025 campaign, he completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 3,297 yards with 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. On the ground, Stokes rushed 82 times for 367 yards and 10 more scores.
Peyton Lewis, running back
Sophomore at Tennessee
247Sports transfer rankings: Three stars, No. 223 overall and No. 22 at RB
On3 national reporter Pete Nakos has said that the 'Cuse is among the early schools to watch for the 6-foot-1, 212-pound Lewis. It wouldn't surprise me if he ends up visiting Syracuse football. In 2025 for the Volunteers, Lewis carried the ball 70 times for 290 yards with seven scores. He also caught four passes for 42 yards.
Trey Hedden, quarterback
Sophomore at Furman (FCS level)
247Sports transfer rankings: Not available
According to Syracuse.com, the 6-foot-3, 228-pound Hedden plans to visit the Orange after the transfer portal opens. In 2025, for Furman, he threw for 2,967 yards with 17 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.
Jayvan Boggs, wide receiver
Freshman at Florida State
247Sports transfer rankings: Three stars, No. 84 overall and No. 25 at WR
As I noted in another recent column, Syracuse football freshman defensive back/wide receiver Demetres Samuel Jr. and freshman wide receiver Darius Johnson are high on Boggs, according to recent emoji-related X posts. Another name to monitor is Florida Gators freshman wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery. This past season, Boggs caught nine passes for 103 yards and one score through the air.
Toledo players
Okay, this is broad. But hear me out. Toledo's former defensive coordinator, Vince Kehres, now holds the same role with Syracuse football. Toledo cornerbacks coach Perry Eliano is joining the Orange as its defensive backs coach. So it would seem logical that Rockets players who plan to enter the portal could end up transferring to the Orange. Among those Toledo guys expected to explore transfer options are:
•Esean Carter, senior defensive tackle
•K'Von Sherman, senior linebacker
•Chris D’Appolonia, redshirt sophomore linebacker
•Braden Awls, junior safety
•Anthony Boswell, redshirt freshman offensive lineman
•Cole Rhett, sophomore offensive lineman
•Carlos Hazelwood, redshirt freshman defensive tackle
•Ryder Treadway, freshman wide receiver
•DJ Kelly, freshman cornerback
•Malachi Davis, redshirt junior edge rusher (former Syracuse football verbal commit)