Syracuse football's 2026 season preview: SU looks strong at linebacker position group

The linebacker position was always going to be an uphill battle for the Syracuse football team in 2025. Replacing Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron turned out to be even tougher than expected. With injuries and the burden of an offense that couldn’t score points, it was a rough year for the Orange linebackers. With some familiar faces back and an infusion of talent from the transfer portal, will Syracuse be better at the linebacker position in 2026? Let’s take a closer look at this key position group.

The starters

The conversation at linebacker has to begin with Antoine Deslauriers. He tied for the team lead in tackles last season, becoming the first true freshman in program history to do so. The Montreal native would have been a hot commodity in the transfer portal, but chose to return to the Orange for his sophomore season. He’s penciled in as the starting middle linebacker and will be among the most important figures for the Syracuse defense this year.

Another key figure is likely to be Chris D’Appolonia. The Toledo transfer followed defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, who orchestrated the Toledo defense last season. D’Appolonia was a third-team All-MAC selection in 2025, playing for a defense that allowed just 13.3 points per game. He’s a proven commodity in a small conference and knows the scheme the Orange will run under Kehres, making him key in Syracuse’s transition to a new defensive coordinator.

The third projected starter at linebacker is UT-Martin transfer Keyshawn Johnson. He initially attended Grambling State, where he was an FCS freshman All-American. Johnson spent the last two years at UT-Martin and was named an FCS All-American last year. He’s at his best when being utilized as an edge rusher, so look for Deslauriers and D’Appolonia to stuff the run and play sideline to sideline, with Johnson working as a pass-rushing specialist.

The backups

Barring injury, Syracuse hopes to have the benefit of depth at linebacker this season. Senior Gary Bryant is still a part of the equation after tying Deslauriers for the team lead in tackles last year. Even if Deslauriers and D’Appolonia are the starters, Bryant will see plenty of the field and should be considered an interchangeable piece with those two. Bryant handled himself in the Atlantic Coast Conference last year after being an FCS All-American at South Dakota in 2024, so he should be reliable for the Orange in 2026.

Further depth will come from juniors Zyian Moultrie-Goddard, David Omopariola and Jamie Tremble. Moultrie-Goddard saw action in every game last year, collecting 11 tackles. If he can take another step forward, Moultrie-Goddard will carve out a bigger role and improve Syracuse’s linebacker depth. Omopariola was even more involved in the defense last year, leading the Orange with 8.5 tackles for a loss.

He’s more of an edge rusher and will challenge Johnson for playing time and the starting spot. Tremble will likely have a similar role after transitioning from tight end to linebacker last season. He has considerable upside, especially now that he’s focusing on linebacker rather than playing both sides of the ball.

The rest

Even beyond the two-deep, there are plenty of linebackers on the Syracuse roster who are worth getting to know. Trey Dudley appeared in four games last season, preserving his redshirt year. He should feature on special teams this year and provide additional linebacker depth. The same can be said of true freshmen Maurice Medley and Gemaus Sackie. Medley is listed at 6’3’’ and had some impressive offers out of high school, so he’s someone to watch. Sackie, meanwhile, has a track background and brings speed to the table.

Syracuse also has a couple of walk-ons playing linebacker in Garvin St. John and Josh Kubala. St. John has yet to appear in any games in two seasons, but does work on the scout team. Kubala is a Syracuse native who went to CNS High School. He’s part of the university’s ROTC program, which gives him a scholarship. Kubala has also appeared in 36 games over the last three seasons, primarily on special teams.

The skinny

There are a few reasons to be optimistic about Syracuse’s situation at linebacker heading into the 2026 season. With a year of experience under his belt, Deslauriers could become a difference-maker for the Orange defense. D’Appolonia also boasts upside after excelling at Toledo, while Bryant gives the Orange a third experienced linebacker to man the middle of the field.

Meanwhile, the likes of Johnson, Omopariola and Tremble give the Syracuse linebacker corps several potential pass-rushers. If those six players can stay healthy, the Orange will have a steady collection of linebackers who all bring something different to the table. Of course, none are a lock to perform at an All-ACC level, so any optimism should be somewhat tempered. Also, if Syracuse has to dip beyond its top six or seven linebackers, depth is a potential issue. However, there is at least hope that the linebacker position can help the Syracuse defense take a positive step forward in 2026.

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