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Syracuse’s football program has been transformed since Fran Brown’s arrival as head coach on Nov. 28, 2023. The former University of Georgia defensive backs coach dominated the transfer portal in his first offseason at the helm, adding key players on both sides of the ball — like quarterback Kyle McCord and edge rusher Fadil Diggs.

Additionally, Brown retained LeQuint Allen Jr., Oronde Gadsden II, Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron, among numerous other players. The combination of incoming and returning players gives the Orange one of their most talented rosters in the last decade.

Perhaps the biggest difference Brown has brought to Syracuse is the culture he’s established, with his D.A.R.T. — detailed, accountable, relentless and tough — philosophy completely reshaping the program. On Saturday, the beneficial offseason gets its first real test against Ohio at the JMA Wireless Dome.

“I’m very thankful to be the head football coach here,” Brown said ahead of his first game as SU’s head coach. “I’m also thankful that we have an opportunity of playing against Ohio.”

Here are some takeaways from Brown’s weekly press conference before his first game as SU’s head coach:

Not underestimating the Bobcats

Hailing from the Mid-American Conference, Ohio enters 2024 coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons. Additionally, the Bobcats have won two straight bowl games, while the Orange haven’t recorded a bowl victory since 2018. Because of its recent success, Brown views Ohio as a better team than SU heading into Saturday’s matchup.

“I would never say we could underestimate them because they have two 10-win seasons and I don’t think we did,” Brown said. “So, in my eyes, they’re a better football team than we are when you go back to what’s been done.”

Brown noted he thinks Ohio has an “amazing” staff. The 41-year-old newly-hired SU head coach noted that Bobcats head coach Tim Albin has been coaching in college football since Brown was just 7.

Additionally, Brown said Ohio’s offensive line stood out on film and its dual-threat quarterback, Parker Navarro, “can play.” On the defensive side of the ball, the Bobcats’ secondary has caught the former Georgia defensive backs coach’s eye.

“I think we have a good team coming in the house,” Brown said of Ohio. “They’re known for taking out Power Four schools.”

The wide receiver room

One of SU’s most revamped position groups is its wide receivers. Two of its three leading receivers from 2023, Damien Alford and Donovan Brown, are not with the program this year. But, with the additions of Zeed Haynes, Jackson Meeks and Justus Ross-Simmons from the transfer portal along with Trebor Peña returning from a season-ending injury, the group is substantially improved.

Even with a bevy of changes from last year, Umari Hatcher — whose 482 receiving yards placed second among SU players in 2023 — earned one of the three spots atop Syracuse’s first depth chart alongside Haynes and Peña.

“He talked about his ending goal in football was to play in the National Football League and be a good player there,” Brown said of Hatcher. “I asked, ‘Do you wanna go (to the NFL)? Because if you just wanna go to the NFL, you’re talented enough to do that. Do you wanna go and play and be apart of it?’

“We talked about his weight, he had to gain more weight, he needed to be at least 185 pounds. He needed to get physical in the run game. And he needed to make difficult catches … He answered the bell, he did everything he was asked to do.”

Ross-Simmons, who caught 45 passes for 724 yards and three touchdowns at Colorado State last year, wasn’t listed on the depth chart. The wide receiver has been battling a hamstring injury throughout training camp. Still, Brown is hopeful the 6-foot-3 Rochester native will play against the Bobcats.

“He’s had just a bum summer, just hasn’t been able to stay completely healthy,” Brown said of Ross-Simmons. “We saw it before we started camp and then he had a bad hamstring pull. But he’s working to get back, he’s almost back completely.”

Headset communication

When asked which coaches would wear a headset and be in McCord’s ear during games, Brown said offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon and quarterbacks coach Nunzio Campanile will communicate with SU’s quarterback. One of college football’s newest rules for 2024 is having the option to use coach-to-player communications through the helmet to one player on the field.

Brown smiled when saying McCord — who threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns at Ohio State last season — doesn’t need anyone in his ear, noting he’s like a coach on the field. But with the new rules in place, Brown said Nixon and Campanile will offer proper guidance to McCord amid games.

“(Nixon and Campanile are) normal guys that he communicates with every day,” Brown said of McCord. “We’re not gonna change any of that stuff around.”

According to the NCAA, communication from the coach to the player will be turned off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.

Published on August 26, 2024 at 6:35 pm

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon