First-year head coach Fran Brown has revealed the future plans of two key receivers for Syracuse football in the 2024 season.
As I anticipated, All-American tight end Oronde Gadsden II is not expected to return to the Hill for another campaign, Brown says. I have every confidence that Gadsden will be playing on Sundays in the NFL in the near future, and Orange Nation is so thankful to Oronde for what has proven a stellar 'Cuse career.
The 6-foot-5, 236-pound Gadsden, a redshirt junior who hails from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has in 2024 hauled in 69 catches for 860 yards and five scores. He was named to the AP All-America third team, Sports Illustrated's All-America second group and the All-ACC first squad.
Fran Brown on Oronde Gadsden tonight at the DART Party: "He's leaving."
— Samantha Croston (@SamCroston1) December 19, 2024
Follows it up by saying "We're happy for you also." pic.twitter.com/mOR83WIaeY
Gadsden, who was also on the All-ACC first team in 2022, has already set several Orange program records for a tight end. So far in the current stanza, he checks in at No. 5 within the Atlantic Coast Conference in receiving yards per contest.
An update on another Syracuse football receiver.
Meanwhile, Brown says that All-ACC performer Trebor Pena is going to come back for another year with the Orange, and the head coach added that Pena will be a captain in the 2025 season, which is awesome to hear.
Player update: Coach Fran Brown announced at the DART Party that Trebor Pena is coming back next year and will be a captain
— Samantha Croston (@SamCroston1) December 19, 2024
The 6-foot, 184-pound Pena, who is from Ocean Township, N.J., was named to the 2024 All-ACC second team. So far, he's caught 79 passes for 871 yards and seven touchdowns through the air. He's currently No. 4 within the ACC in receiving yards per contest.
Syracuse football (9-3 overall), ranked No. 21 in the latest College Football Playoff top 25, is set to face Pac-12 Conference member Washington State (8-4 overall) at the Holiday Bowl on December 27 in San Diego.
Pena's expected return is huge for the 'Cuse as it pertains to the team's receivers room in the 2025 campaign. Senior Jackson Meeks, also a second-team All-ACC performer in 2024, will have exhausted his college eligibility.
However, the Orange is likely to have numerous tight ends and wide receivers on its current roster come back in 2025. This week, Rutgers senior wide receiver Chris Long, a three-star transfer prospect, committed to the 'Cuse, and he has one season of collegiate eligibility left.
At the high school level, the Syracuse football 2025 class stands 34 deep, the most in the country, and this 'Cuse cycle includes various three-star tight ends and wide receivers.