Syracuse Football 2025 Preview: How does the Orange defense replace stud linebackers?

The linebacker position has been an undeniable strength for Syracuse football in recent years. Outside of the time he missed last season due to injury, Marlowe Wax was a four-year starter, twice leading the Orange in tackles. Justin Barron was last year’s leading tackler, playing mostly as a linebacker in Wax’s absence. Of course, both players have moved on to the NFL, leaving big shoes to fill at linebacker. While there are some familiar names still on the roster, let’s take a closer look at what Syracuse’s situation at linebacker looks like ahead of the 2025 season.

The starters

In all likelihood, Derek McDonald will step into one of the starting linebacker spots. The fifth-year senior has played 37 games for the Orange, including 26 starts during his career. While not the impact player that Wax and Barron have been, McDonald has been a stable part of the linebacking corps, filling in as needed. After finishing fourth on the team in tackles last season, he will have a much bigger role in 2025 and is more than capable of taking his game to the next level, while also being a leader.

Joining McDonald in the starting lineup is likely to be South Dakota transfer Gary Bryant. The Baltimore native was an All-American at the FCS level last season, helping South Dakota reach the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs. Whether that success at the FCS level can immediately translate to success in the ACC remains to be seen. But he certainly has the potential to help fill the hole left by Wax and Barron.

If it’s not Bryant, it’ll likely be Anwar Sparrow starting at linebacker. Sparrow has played in almost every game over the last three seasons, mostly in a reserve role. After initially entering the transfer portal, Sparrow decided to return to Syracuse and will have a chance to finally become a full-time starter in his final season. Like McDonald, Sparrow brings experience and leadership. It’s just a question of whether he can go from backup and special teams contributor to every-down player.

The backups

Even with three players battling over two starting spots, depth is still critical at the linebacker position. The first player that comes to mind is James Heard, a Camden, New Jersey native and West Virginia transfer who played in 11 games last season. Just a redshirt sophomore, this is potentially a breakout season. Keep in mind that he had offers from schools like Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M coming out of high school, so he has as much upside as any linebacker on the roster.

David Omopariola is another player to watch after appearing in 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2024. While more of an edge rusher than a typical linebacker, Omopariola should have a role on the Syracuse defense this season. If nothing else, he should see the field in obvious passing situations to give the Orange an extra pass-rushing threat.

True freshman Antoine Deslauriers is also a candidate to be part of the linebacker rotation. Born in Montreal, Deslauriers played high school football in Georgia, helping him attract offers from the likes of Auburn, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Florida State. That should tell you a lot about his talent level. Physically, Deslauriers looks like he could be ready to contribute as a true freshman.

The rest

In all likelihood, the Orange will need far more than six linebackers to get through the season. Whether it’s on special teams or providing depth, plenty of other linebackers will see the field in 2025. Sophomores Zyian Moultrie-Goddard, Jahide Lesaine, and Caden Brown all saw action on special teams in virtually every game last season. They should fill the same role this year, with the possibility of joining the rotation at linebacker. The same can be said of redshirt freshman Fatim Diggs, the younger brother of Fadil Diggs. The younger Diggs brother saw action in three games last year, preserving his redshirt, and should have an opportunity to see more of the field this season.

Beyond that group, there are a few more notable linebackers on the roster. Senior Josh Kubala, a former walk-on, was also a regular on special teams last season and will likely do the same in 2025. True freshman Trey Dudley is likely to redshirt, taking a year to get stronger physically. Redshirt freshmen Luis Puente and Garvin St. John looked destined for scout team duties. Last but not least, Fran Brown Jr. has joined his father’s team after making 33 tackles for Saint Francis last season, including a team-high nine tackles in an upset win over Kent State.

The skinny

It’s hard not to be a little worried about the linebacker position heading into the season. McDonald and Sparrow bring experience and leadership, while Bryant is a wild card who was a standout player at the FCS level last season. But any of them playing at the level we’ve seen from Wax and Barron in recent years is far from a certainty. As a silver lining, younger linebackers like Heard, Deslauriers, Brown, and Diggs all offer upside. But if none of them are ready to fulfill their potential, the trio of McDonald, Bryant, and Sparrow will have to hold it down in the middle of the field in 2025.