Happy first day of the transfer portal being open to all those who celebrate.
The portal will be open from January 2 to January 16, and at least 27 players from Syracuse football's 2025 roster have revealed plans to explore the transfer market.
Two of the latest to do so are junior wide receiver Johntay Cook II, according to multiple media reports, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Rickie Collins, per 247Sports/CBS Sports. Wishing both Johntay and Rickie well in their future collegiate endeavors!
Syracuse quarterback Rickie Collins is expected to enter the transfer portal, sources tell me, @McAllisterMike1 and @chris_hummer.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 2, 2026
Collins, who is repped by @AiC_Athletes, made five starts for Syracuse this season. Former four-star recruit who began his career at LSU. pic.twitter.com/iIQhSeqyeI
After a rough 2025 season, in which the Orange went 3-9 overall, head coach Fran Brown made significant changes to his assistant staff. The 'Cuse also has a 26-member, record-setting 2026 class at the prep level, and Syracuse football coaches are expected to hit the transfer portal hard.
Collins' departure is not a surprise, although to me, Cook's decision to bolt the Hill is both a surprise and a blow to the team's wide receivers room.
Syracuse football has lost its leading WR from 2025.
This past season, the 6-foot, 198-pound Cook, from DeSoto, Texas, led the Orange with 45 catches for 549 yards. He also had two receiving scores. According to Syracuse.com, his decision to enter the portal comes after the team and the player "could not agree to terms on a new contract," per Cook's dad.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Collins, from Baton Rouge, La., started several games at quarterback for the 'Cuse after redshirt junior Steve Angeli suffered a season-ending injury in the team's win at Clemson last September. Collins struggled. For the entire 2025 term, Collins completed 53.6 percent of his passes for 1,042 yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Brown has said that he anticipates his 2026 quarterback room will include Angeli, two transfer quarterbacks and incoming freshman Zaid Lott, a three-star commit from Charlotte, N.C.
Here are the 27 Syracuse football players who plan to transfer when the portal opens:
Junior wide receiver Johntay Cook II
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Rickie Collins
Junior wide receiver Darrell Gill Jr.
Sophomore linebacker Jahide Lesaine Jr.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Umari Hatcher
Freshman defensive lineman Quante Gillians
Redshirt junior defensive back Greg Delaine
Sophomore running back Yasin Willis
Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Joshua Miller
Redshirt sophomore linebacker James Heard
Sophomore running back Jaden Hart
Freshman quarterback Luke Carney
Freshman defensive back Ta'Ron Haile
Redshirt junior offensive lineman Carter Clark
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Nick Armentano
Redshirt junior defensive back Jalil Martin
Redshirt freshman linebacker Fatim Diggs
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaylan Hornsby
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Emanuel Ross
Freshman defensive back Kaylib Singleton
Redshirt junior long snapper Ethan Stangle
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jakhari Williams
Sophomore linebacker Caden Brown
Sophomore running back/return man Malachi James
Redshirt freshman defensive back Ibn McDaniels
Redshirt senior linebacker Derek McDonald
Redshirt senior defensive lineman/tight end Chase Simmons