Syracuse Football: If you tamper with his players, Fran Brown is coming for you

If you try to poach his players by tampering in the transfer portal, Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown says, you do so at your own peril.

Brown, whose Orange is 2-1 heading into week four at Clemson on Saturday afternoon, issued a stark warning to those who try to tamper with his players via the transfer portal. He said during a recent episode of the "I AM ATHLETE" podcast with Darien Rencher and Mo Hasan that if you act in this regard, Brown will "come see them."

According to an article from On3's Daniel Hager, Brown said in part, "It’s just the game, it’s what they do. I don’t care, but don’t let me find out and then I’ll see you. Cause I ain’t no b****. Like I’m gonna come at you like ‘what’s up?’ I’m gonna see you. There’s a couple of dudes I called and they tried to say ‘lose my line.' Like man, shut up."

Heck yeah, Fran. That's our coach.

Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown isn't playing with those who tamper in the portal.

The issue of tampering in the transfer portal has only intensifed in recent years as the portal has exploded, due to the NCAA not making players who transfer sit out for one season, as had been the case in the past.

Ahead of the 2024 campaign, Brown's first term at the Orange's helm, he and his staff were fabulous in the portal, landing four-star transfers such as quarterback Kyle McCord and edge rusher Fadil Diggs. This past off-season, before 2025, the 'Cuse was still active in the portal, but not to the same degree as the year prior. Brown has said his focus is on recruiting at the prep level.

However, last off-season, there were a lot of headlines about one Syracuse football player who transferred from the Hill to another program, and that would be wide receiver and All-ACC second-team performer Trebor Peña, who bolted to Big Ten Conference member Penn State.

Defensive lineman Maraad Watson, a freshman All-American at Syracuse football in 2024, also moved from the Orange to Southeastern Conference school Texas.

The 'Cuse kicks off at Clemson (1-2) in Death Valley at 12 pm EST, with television coverage on ESPN. This is the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference opener for Syracuse football and a huge game for the program.