Syracuse football 2026 season preview: The cornerbacks room should be among the ACC's best

There aren’t a lot of positions of certainty and optimism for the Syracuse Orange football team in 2026, but cornerback might be one of them. It’s a position that both returns plenty of experience and was bolstered in the transfer portal. Cornerback looks like it could be one of the biggest strengths of the Orange roster this season, playing a big role in the Syracuse defense turning things around. Let’s look at the players we’ll see lining up at cornerback for the Orange in 2026.

The starters

The tandem of Chris Peal and Demetres Samuel Jr. is back in 2026. After transferring from Georgia, Peal started every game for the Orange in 2025, finishing with seven defended passes. As a senior, Peal has two years of eligibility left. However, there is already talk of him being a future NFL corner, as he’s poised to be among the best in the ACC this year.

As for Samuel, he arrived on campus with a lot of hype and lived up to it as a freshman last season. He was the team leader with nine defended passes and among the top freshmen in the ACC. It remains to be seen if he’ll see more time at wide receiver this season, as Samuel has the ability to play on both sides of the ball. But as a cornerback, he’s likely to take a step forward during his sophomore season, and along with Peal, he'll give the Orange one of the top cornerback tandems in the conference.

Rounding out the starting lineup is nickel back Davien Kerr. Not to be confused with his twin brother Davion, a running back for the Orange, Kerr has made seven starts in 20 games over the last two seasons. Depending on how things shake out under new defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, Kerr could be used as a safety or a nickel back. He could also get some reps as a backup to Peal or Samuel if needed. In any event, he figures to be a key part of the secondary this season.

The backups

Even with Peal and Samuel coming back, Fran Brown did not rest on his laurels at the cornerback spot. He brought in Western Kentucky transfer Nazir Ward to serve as a backup. Similar to Kerr, Ward could shift to safety to see more of the field. But he also provides some experienced depth at cornerback.

Further depth comes from fellow Western Kentucky transfer Jai Eugene. He’s a little older than Ward, beginning his career at Tulane before spending the last two seasons with the Hilltoppers. That gives him 25 games of playing experience under his belt. Eugene is another player who will likely see the field in packages that put extra defensive backs on the field. But his experience makes him a viable backup behind Peal and Samuel.

The rest

There will be a slew of young cornerbacks on the Syracuse roster hoping to make the two-deep and contribute outside of special teams. Javon Lawrence and Ziyyon Bredell might have a step up on the competition, as both are redshirt freshmen who have a year in the program. Meanwhile, Darnell Stokes, Chase Geter, and Cam Hairston-Taylor are all true freshmen.

One final player to watch is Marcus Washington. He’s had quite the odyssey, leaving high school as a four-star recruit and beginning his college career at Georgia. Washington also spent time at Louisville before coming to Syracuse in 2024. However, an injury sidelined him for the entire 2024 season, with Washington playing mostly on special teams last year. Surely, the talent is there, but Washington hasn’t been able to put it all together. He’s not necessarily someone the Orange should be counting on, but he does give the Syracuse secondary a wild card worth watching.

The skinny

With Peal and Samuel, Syracuse is in safe hands at cornerback. Both have a chance to be better than last season, potentially giving the Orange the best cornerback tandem in the ACC. Their presence also gives Kehres plenty of freedom with his defensive play-calling, knowing that he has two corners who can handle one-on-one coverage.

With players like Kerr, Ward, and Eugene, the depth behind Peal and Samuel is solid as well. Kerr, in particular, is a player the Orange will want to get on the field as much as possible. If Washington or one of the young corners on the roster emerges, that will be the icing on the cake, making a position of strength even stronger for the Orange in 2026.

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