TBT: Orange Look to Add to Pro Success

Syracuse football has a storied track record of not just positioning players for the NFL, but preparing them to succeed.

After Dwight Freeney became the latest former Orange star to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past summer, Syracuse has produced the seventh-most hall of famers of any school, with nine having been enshrined in Canton.

A host of Syracuse players look to start their journey to the NFL – and maybe even Canton – this weekend during the 2025 NFL Draft.

'Cuse is likely to see more names called during the seven rounds of the NFL draft than any time in recent history. Most notably, record-setting quarterback Kyle McCord will become the first Orange QB drafted since 2013, when Ryan Nassib went in the fourth round to the New Orleans Saints. Should McCord go higher than pick 110 (Nassib's selection), he'll be the highest-drafted signal caller out of 'Cuse since Donovan McNabb was taken second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles. That selection worked out well for Philly fans, as McNabb went on to have his jersey retired by the franchise, make six Pro Bowls and be inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame.

Tight end Oronde Gadsden II is another player who scouts love, recently being named Mel Kiper Jr.'s favorite tight end in this year's draft class. He'll be the first tight end selected to the draft since Roland Williams (Rams) in 1998. Williams was a member of "The Greatest Show on Turf" during his early years in the league, helping the team to the 1998 Super Bowl. Six previous Orange tight ends have heard their name called at the NFL Draft, most notably John Mackey, who was selected to the pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Defensive end Fadil Diggs is a projected draft pick, where he hopes to become the most recent 'Cuse selection at the position since Alton Robinson in 2020. No position has seen more recent NFL success for the Orange, as five SU defensive ends have heard their names called since 2000, with two of the NFL's top-30 all-time sacks leaders being selected in the first round during that span (Freeney – Colts and Chandler Jones - Patriots), where each went on to win Super Bowls.

Dwight Freeney jersey retirement

Running back LeQuint Allen Jr. is likely to become the first Syracuse running back selected in the draft since Delone Carter in 2011 (Colts), although Allen's backfield mate from his freshman season, Sean Tucker, signed with Tampa Bay, where he's still a member of the active roster and has seen his touches increase year over year. Syracuse has three backs that have gone on to Pro Football Hall of Fame careers (Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka), and of course Ernie Davis was a Heisman Trophy winner at the position and was selected first overall by Washington before ultimately passing away before getting the chance to play.

Safety Alijah Clark looks to become the first Orange safety selected in the draft since Andre Cisco (Jaguars) in 2019 was selected in the third round. Cisco recently signed as a free agent with his hometown Jets.

A pair of 'Cuse linebackers, who spent five years with the program and are ready to start their NFL journey are Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax. They hope to follow in the footsteps of Zaire Franklin, the NFL's leading tackler, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Jackson Meeks looks to become the latest wideout from Syracuse to star in the NFL. 'Cuse boasts two hall of famers at the position in Marvin Harrison and Art Monk. Meeks spent one season with the Orange and surpassed the 1,000-yard threshold. Mike Williams (2010) was the last Syracuse wideout to be selected in the draft, when he was a Buccaneers' fourth round pick.

'Cuse has a pair of starters in the NFL who were drafted as corners in the past-four seasons. Ifeatu Melifonwu (Lions) and Garrett Williams (Cardinals), were both third-round picks in the 2021 and 2023 drafts, respectively. Clarence Lewis hopes to join them after earning All-ACC honors in his one season at 'Cuse.

Savion Washington, Jakob Bradford and Josh Ilaoa – three starters off last year's offensive line – are in the mix for the league as well. It's been 12 years since an Orange offensive lineman got the call on draft day, that was by Justin Pugh in 2013 being selected with the 19th overall pick. Pugh spent more than a decade in the league.

Long snapper Tom Callahan hopes to end up in the professional ranks as well. The Orange currently have two specialists in the NFL, placekicker Andre Szmyt and punter Riley Dixon. Dixon was the last specialist drafted for SU in the 2016 draft.

The NFL Draft starts Thursday at 8 p.m. and continues through Saturday. Coverage can be found on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 and NFL Network.