Syracuse Football: Six impactful players for the 2025 season, assuming they return

With Syracuse football players entering the NFL Draft, players like Kyle McCord and LeQuint Allen Jr. still deciding on their future, some entering the transfer portal or some just out of eligibility, there will be a lot of changeover for the 2025 Syracuse Orange football team. But such is life in this era of college football, whether we like it or not.

And while I think it does make it harder to build chemistry and for fans to embrace players, it is only fair if players are unhappy to allow them to move on just like any other college student or coach could do without punishment.

But even with all that change, there will often be some stability too as players decide to stay on. And with that, room for those players staying to see their roles increase.

Originally, this was a list of five players, but as I started writing it, one player I had on my shortlist announced plans to enter the portal, another one announced he wanted to withdraw from the portal and I honestly had two guys at the same position I think capable, so why not give both some love?

Listen, I’m not Miss Cleo here and I’m not saying these are the only players who will make an impact on the field. I might also be wrong or injuries could play a role too. But based on what I saw in 2024, these are six guys who, if they stay, I truly believe will make a huge difference for the 2025 Syracuse Orange football program.

A half-dozen players who, if they return, will make a big impact for Syracuse football next season.

Trebor Pena
Trebor is probably the most reliable and often underrated player on this roster. What started out as a special teams role turned into Trebor’s role expanding immensely as a wide receiver. Trebor is the definition of that guy you watched and thought he could be good but actually, year after year, improved to make you believe that even you might have underestimated his potential. And while I could probably put three to four wide receivers on the list, something about how Trebor plays makes me want to see him play on Sundays soon too.

Duce Chestnut
Duce will add necessary experience in the secondary. Duce is also a legitimate threat to get involved not just in pass protection but in run defense as well. Duce’s return to the Orange brought excitement to the fanbase and I expect him to step up even more as secondary players move on. Duce finished the season with 61 tackles and was often a guy who came up to stop a big play and while he may not have a lot of interceptions, those 61 tackles alone made a huge impact on this team, including a forced fumble against Virginia Tech in the overtime win by the Orange.

Jack Stonehouse
Whose house? StacheHouse! With a change in the special teams coach coming soon, my hope is we still see Jack punting for the Orange. Jack is a personal favorite not just for the awesome mustache and great personality, but I also think he's a top-tier punter in the game who should get a legitimate chance to play in the NFL one day.

Denis Jaquez Jr./Chase Simmons
The defensive line is a crazy position. Often, you’re lined up against the biggest guys you’ve ever seen and it’s your job to push them around and get pressure into the backfield or open holes for others to get through. Denis had five tackles and a sack in the Holiday Bowl and finished the season with 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks. With Fadil Diggs gone to the NFL, I think he and Chase Simmons are most likely going to be the ones to fill that role. BTW, Chase was no slouch with 17 tackles in 2024, and he’s another who has only gotten better as he gets more experience.

Anwar Sparrow
Anwar entered the portal, Coach Fran Brown said he thought he might not leave and soon after, Anwar announced he was withdrawing from the portal. Anwar will add depth and experience to a linebacker position losing impactful players like Marlowe Wax Jr. and Justin Barron.