Syracuse football sophomore running back Yasin Willis, the team's leading rusher during a disappointing 2025 season for the program, said via his X page on Tuesday that he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens early next month.
Wow. I did not see that coming. In mid-November, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Willis told Syracuse.com that he planned to return to the Orange in the 2026 term. Now, his plans have changed. As always, I'm wishing Yasin nothing but success moving forward.
Allah knows best!🤲🏾 pic.twitter.com/Xu4o2W6vtB
— Yasin Willis (@willisyasin6) December 23, 2025
This is a major development as it pertains to the 'Cuse running back room in 2026. In the most recent campaign, when Syracuse football went 3-9 overall, Willis carried the ball 129 times for 558 yards with four scores on the ground. He led the squad in both total rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 2025.
The Orange's rushing attack wasn't terrific in 2025, in part due to struggles on the offensive line as well as poor quarterback play after redshirt junior Steve Angeli went down with a season-ending injury in September.
Syracuse football has lost its starting RB from this past stanza.
Willis, who is from Newark, N.J., was a four-star prospect and one of the Orange's highest-ranked commits in its 2024 class. In his freshman season, Willis carried the ball 36 times for 130 yards and one rushing touchdown.
On Monday, Syracuse football sophomore running back Jaden Hart also said on social media that he plans to enter the transfer portal, which will be open from January 2 until January 16. At least 18 players from the Orange's 2025 roster have announced that they intend to transfer.
Earlier in December, sophomore running back/return man Malachi James said that he planned to enter the portal. The 'Cuse coaching staff will look to add running backs for 2026 via the portal.
Other running backs on Syracuse football's 2025 roster included redshirt senior Will Nixon, freshman Malachi Coleman, fellow freshman Tylik Hill and redshirt sophomore Tyler Chandler.
The Orange's 2026 class at the high school level features three-star running back Shavane Anderson Jr. out of William Penn High School in York, Pa.