Syracuse Football: Which former transfers would be best for 'Cuse to have in 2025?

As much as Syracuse football’s roster has improved from the Transfer Portal, sometimes, you have to say “what if,” and think about the guys who left. That’s what I’m going to do today.

5. Leon Lowery Jr./Stefon Thompson

I'm going to combine these two as there's a lot of similarities in their games and what's happened since transferring from Syracuse after 2023. Both are linebackers whose games are honestly best suited for the 3-3-5 defense, which Syracuse once ran under Tony White and Rocky Long. When they transferred, both chose to stay in the defense, with Lowery going to Wisconsin and Thompson to Nebraska, where he would work with Coach White again. From there, the two also regressed and transferred again, with Lowery going to Illinois and Thompson following White to Florida State. Syracuse is thin at linebacker this year, and I think either Lowery or Thompson could start as an off-ball linebacker.

4. J’Onre Reed

The former JuCo product turned into a consistent starting center in 2023 and 2024, but departed for USC after the Diego Pavia ruling gave JuCo players another year of eligibility. With Mark Petry’s injury and David Wohlabaugh Jr. transferring too, Syracuse is thin with experience on the offensive line, especially in the middle. Reed is a very experienced, solid starter, and would be a floor riser. I'd much rather have him than the transfers Syracuse brought in to try and replace him, just for his starting experience.

3. Trebor Pena

I know it’s a surprise to not see Pena in the top two - I’m surprised he ended at No. 3 as well. After four years spent as a returner and backup receiver, Pena broke out as one of the countrys' best slot receivers, catching an ACC-leading 84 passes for 941 yards and nine touchdowns, developing an excellent connection with Kyle McCord. There are two reasons why I don’t have Pena higher, first being his injury history. The now Penn State receiver suffered a season-ending injury after eight games in 2021 and played only one game in 2023. Additionally, Syracuse has a deep receiver room. Sure, Pena would be an upgrade and the headliner, but I am perfectly fine rolling out a receiver room of Justus-Ross Simmons, Darrell Gill Jr., Johntay Cook II and Umari Hatcher Jr., with potential second-year breakouts from Emmanuel Ross and Jaylan Hornsby. I think the receiver room is the deepest on this Syracuse team, which does mitigate the loss of Pena.

2. Jeremiah Wilson

Wilson is a player who wasn't bad with Syracuse at cornerback, but really broke out after going to Houston. Last year, he caught four interceptions and achieved an 86.9 defensive grade from PFF - fourth best among Power Four cornerbacks. Wilson also recorded 24 tackles, four for a loss, with four pass breakups and a touchdown. The 5’10” 185-pound senior again entered the portal to reunite with White and Thompson at Florida State, where he is expected to be one of the ACC's best cornerbacks. Syracuse is going to be very young at cornerback in 2025, expecting to start true freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. and sophomore Davien Kerr. While both Samuel and Kerr have bright futures, I would much rather have Wilson back in the fold and turn a question mark into a strength for one more year.

1. Maraad Watson

Watson wasn’t supposed to do anything special as a true freshman last year. Instead, he started 11 games and became a Freshman All-American, benefitting from injuries to Braylen Ingraham, Dion Wilson Jr., and Kevin Jobity Jr. before recording 31 tackles, 15 solo, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass breakup. Watson shined as a run stopper, and he would have performed better in that role with more depth around him. While Wilson and Jobity are back and Syracuse isn’t in a horrible spot at defensive tackle, Watson would be a major upgrade at the position. The bigger thing with him is youth - unlike everybody else on the list, playing their final year of college football, Watson has three more years of eligibility. That makes the Texas Longhorn the best former transfer to have on this year’s Syracuse football team.