Syracuse football's running back room for the upcoming 2026 campaign went through some shuffling on Tuesday. As I reported earlier in the day, per a source, LSU transfer running back Ju’Juan Johnson has committed to the Orange.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Johnson, a sophomore, visited the 'Cuse this past weekend, and he is expected to have two years of college eligibility left. Johnson will likely be a significant contender for the Orange's No. 1 running back spot in 2026.
Also on Tuesday, Syracuse football redshirt senior Will Nixon said via social media that, while he was granted a waiver by the NCAA to play next season, he has decided to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Orange Nation wishes Will all the best and much success moving forward. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound native of Waco, Texas, is the son of Syracuse football offensive coordinator and running backs coach Jeff Nixon.
Syracuse football's running back group will look a lot different in the 2026 term.
In 2025, Will Nixon, who previously played at Nebraska and Washington, appeared in all 12 regular-season games for the Orange, which went 3-9 overall. He carried the ball 107 times for 432 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 187 yards.
This past season, Nixon was second on the team in total carries, total rushing yards and rushing scores. The leader in each of those categories was sophomore Yasin Willis, who has entered the transfer portal. The portal opened on January 2 and runs through January 16.
Fellow sophomore running backs Jaden Hart and Malachi James have also entered the portal. Those on the Orange's 2025 roster who could return include freshman Malachi Coleman, freshman Tylik Hill and redshirt sophomore Tyler Chandler.
Last month, On3's Pete Nakos reported that Syracuse football was among the early schools to watch for Tennessee transfer running back Peyton Lewis, a sophomore. There has been some chatter that a visit to the Hill could have been in store for Lewis, however, we'll have to see how the pledge by Johnson could impact Lewis' recruitment.