Syracuse Football 2025 Preview: Will the Orange program be special on special teams?

While most preseason previews focus on the offense and defense, we can’t forget about special teams. Given the team’s treacherous schedule, it’s a safe bet that Syracuse football will have to win a lot of close games. That means being sound in the kicking game and trying to gain an edge on special teams. Let’s take a look at some of the specialists who will be key for the Orange in 2025.

Place kicker

Three different kickers saw action last season, which is far from ideal. But with Brady Denaburg transferring to Minnesota and Jackson Kennedy being denied a waiver for an extra year of eligibility, Jadyn Oh will likely open the 2025 campaign as Syracuse’s place kicker. While he was perfect on extra points last year, Oh was just 2 for 5 on field goals and didn’t make anything longer than 32 yards, which is a concern.

Thus, Fran Brown bought in Iowa transfer Tripp Woody as competition. Not surprisingly, Woody is a New Jersey native, so he’ll be closer to home after redshirting at Iowa last season. Of course, he didn’t attempt any kicks for the Hawkeyes last season, so it’s unclear if he can take the job away from Oh. Meanwhile, Evan Cox and Jan Bogdan are two true freshmen kickers on the Syracuse roster, although it looks like it’ll be either Oh or Woody doing the kicking for Syracuse.

Punter

Fortunately for the Orange, there is no competition for the punting job. The job belongs to fifth-year senior Jack Stonehouse, who punted for Missouri in 2022 before transferring to Syracuse. He was an Honorable Mention All-ACC player last season and figures to be among the league’s best again in 2025. Outside of Syracuse’s occasional issues blocking for him last season, Stonehouse was a weapon for the Orange. Freshman Mateja Pavlovich is the other punter on the roster, but he won’t be called upon unless Stonehouse gets hurt.

Long snapper

The long snapper position is one that fans take for granted until there’s a mistake. This year, it looks like Ethan Stangle will have that job for the Orange. This will be his fourth season at Syracuse, although Stangle didn’t see the field until the Holiday Bowl at the end of last season. With Tom Callahan out of eligibility, Stangle will finally get to take over. It’s also worth noting that Fran Brown Jr. is listed as a long snapper on the roster, so the coach’s son will provide some competition for Stangle, giving Syracuse two options for that position.

Kick returners

Could Syracuse have some difference-makers in the return game in 2025? For kickoff returns, all three players who returned kicks last year are back with running backs Yasin Willis and Malachi James and wide receiver Emanuel Ross. If Willis becomes the starting running back as expected, he could be phased out of that role, allowing James and Ross to get more touches in the return game, as both could be buried on the depth chart at their respective positions.

As it relates to punt returns, Trebor Pena was the primary returner last season. Davien Kerr returned one punt, gaining 46 yards on the return. Presumably, Kerr will be the top punt returner this season, even though his role on the Syracuse defense is set to grow. Perhaps Fran Brown has another speedster in mind for returning kicks this season. But heading into the season, look for James, Ross, and Kerr to be the key figures on kick or punt returns.

The skinny

It could be a mixed bag for Syracuse on special teams this season. On the one hand, Stonehouse puts the punting unit in safe hands. There is also a promising group of returners who all bring at least some experience to the table. However, whether the Orange can find a reliable place kicker remains to be seen. The jury is still out on Stangle as the long snapper, although nothing about his performance in the Holiday Bowl raised a red flag. If a dependable field goal kicker doesn’t emerge, Fran Brown may have no choice but to be extra aggressive on fourth downs this season, which may or may not be a bad thing. Of course, missed field goals could cost Syracuse games, especially with a small margin for error against a tough schedule.