Syracuse Orange football: An early look at the 2025 defense and special teams by position

In what was a year to remember offensively for the Syracuse Orange, it's easy to forget the defensive woes and special teams mishaps. SU finished the season between bottom half of teams in the ACC in points allowed (29.2 PPG), yards allowed from scrimmage (377.5 yards) and takeaways (16) against a schedule of opponents with a combined winning percentage barely above .500. Oh, and the road doesn't get any easier in 2025, especially without guys like Justin Barron, Marlowe Wax, and Fadil Diggs, among others, leading the way.

Let's see what the Dutch defense has to offer per position next season:

Defensive line

Departing: Fadil Diggs (eligible), Braylen Ingraham (eligible), Michael Nwokocha (transfer)

Returning: Dion Tank Wilson Jr., Isaiah Hastings, KingJoseph Edwards, Denis Jaquez Jr., Kevin Jobity Jr., Chase Simmons, Stan Modo, Xavier Miles, Maarad Watson, Rashard Perry, Grant Winter, Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff and Clark Calloway

Incoming: Chris Thomas, Jr. (Transfer from Marshall), Haleem Muhammad (HS, three stars), EJ Thomas (HS, three stars), Nathan Nyandoro (HS, three stars), Elijah Crawford (HS, three stars), star), Nissi Ogbebor (HS, three stars)

Early Outlook: Losses Fadil Diggs to the NFL draft stiches. A team leader with 7.5 sacks and 45 total tackles as an All-ACC honorable mention edge rusher, and just a true focal point on the defensive line for opponents to plan their plays. But that being said, Syracuse junior Denis Jaquez Jr. back (third on the team in sacks, behind Diggs and Wax), 247Sports Midseason Freshman All-American Maarad Watson (2nd among defensive lineman in total tackles), redshirt junior Chase Simmons, and former four-star KingJoseph Edwards, who will hopefully continue to develop after not seeing much playing time this season (seven total tackles and three sacks in three games). Additionally, the Orange will get some help from 6-6, 329-pound Marshall transfer Chris Thomas Jr., who finished his junior season with 43 total tackles, two pass deflections and a sack, and incoming three-stars Nathan Nyandoro and Nissi Ogbebor (both 6 – 6 and over 260 pounds). There some potential for this group as many of these guys are young and still developing, but after what SUs DL produced in 2024, the bar is set pretty low in 2025.

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

Linebacker

Departing: Marlowe Wax Jr. (eligible), Justin Barron (eligible)

Returning: Derek McDonald, Anwar Sparrow, James Heard, David Omopariola, Zyian Moultrie-Goddard, Jahide Lesaine Jr., Caden Brown, Mark Short, Garvin St. John, Fatim Diggs, Josh Kubala, Jayden Brown

Incoming: Antoine Deslauriers (HS, three stars), Trey Dudley (HS, three stars), Fran Brown Jr. (transfer from Saint Francis)

Early prospects: The linebacker position group may lose the most, in terms of production, leadership and experience, between Marlowe and JB. The two All-ACC honorable mention LBs combined for 130 total tackles, 6.5 sacks and four total turnovers this season. Derek McDonald is SU's top returning LB (2nd on the team among LBs in total tackles), which isn't saying much considering McDonald received a PFF grade of 64.0 on defense and a 56.6 grade on defense this year for tackling. A few guys who could play a bigger role next season outside of redshirt junior McDonald Anwar Muswho is back at SU after withdrawing his name from the transfer portal, freshman James Heard Jr. and sophomore David Omopariola all saw more playing time during Wax's midseason absence due to injury. There is potential for three-star prospect Antoine Deslauriers to make an impact in his first year at Syracuse as well. You may remember the prospect from Georgia, originally from Quebec, Canada, for a photo that went viral during his official visit in June. Overall, though, this is a very inexperienced group with a lot to prove in 2025.

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

Defensive back

Departing: Clarence Lewis (eligible), Alijah Clark (NFL), Jayden Bellamy (transferred to UCF), Jaeden Gould (transferred to UCF), Marcellus Barnes (transferred)

Returning: Duce Chestnut, Devin Grant, Berry Buxton III, Greg Delaine, Jalil Martin, Cornell Perry, Ibn McDaniels, Davien Kerr, Braheem Long Jr., Marcus Washington Jr., Nate Prater, Nakei Johnson, Tommy Porter, Clay Masters

Incoming: Demetres Samuel (HS, four stars), Kaylib Singleton (HS, three stars), Javon Lawrence (HS, three stars), Jordan Gibbs (HS, three stars), Ziyyon Bredell (HS, three stars), Davion Kerr ( HS, three-star)

Early Outlook: SU's secondary was the only real bright spot on a collectively subpar defense this year, among the better teams in the ACC against the pass rush that allowed just 220 yards per game through the air in conference play. However, three of SU's five starting defensive backs are no longer with the program, including Clarence Lewis (Third-Team All-ACC), Alijah Clark and Jayden Bellamy (who led the team with two INTs). And while the soft deadline for underclassmen to be specially considered for the NFL draft is January 6, the hard deadline is January 15. So there is a good chance that this list of departures could change in the coming days. Duce Chestnut and Devin Grant are two guys to keep an eye on. Freshman Davien Kerr (2nd in total tackles among freshmen behind Maarad Watson), freshman Ibn McDaniels, redshirt junior Berry Buxton III and redshirt sophomore Greg Delaine are the first few names that come to mind when you think of the production replacements that Syracuse leaves. Additionally, Demetres Samuel, the upcoming four-star and top-200 247Sports composite safety, held offers from several top power-four programs, including Alabama, Ole ma'am, Texas A&Mand Miami (FL), among others. Honestly, despite the number of departures, I think this group is still talented and ready to have another good year, especially if Duce Chestnut and Devin Grant decide to stick around for another season.

Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Specialists

Departing: Brady Denaburg (transferred to Minnesota), Tom Callahan (eligible)

Returning: Jack Stonehouse, Jackson Kennedy, Ethan Stangle, Jacob Zuhr, Jadyn Oh

Incoming: Tripp Woody (transfer from Iowa)

Early prospects: SU parted ways with its special teams coach James Vollono at the end of this year, after going through three kickers and converting 13 of 22 field goal attempts (8-15 from 30+ yards). However, Syracuse finished in the top four in ACC games in net punting (40.1 yards per kick). Redshirt junior punter Jack Stonehouse returns to the Orange uniform for another year after back-to-back All-ACC seasons. Redshirt junior Jackson Kennedy will compete for the starting position with Iowa transfer Tripp Woody and redshirt freshman Jaydn Oh (who converted on 2 of 5 field goals in four games). Woody announced his commitment to play at Syracuse in December following his official visit, and although the Charlotte, North Carolina native did not play in his freshman season at Iowa, he went 41 of 44 on PATs and 10 as a senior in high school of 14 on FGs with his longest strike from 50 yards out. With Stonehouse back and a competitive rotation for kickoff duties, I think we could see a productive special teams unit next season.

Next season it will be a new-look Syracuse defense, with six of SU's 11 starters on the back end leaving for the NFL draft or other programs, along with some changes on special teams. Check out our look at the 2025 Orange offense from Finn Lincoln and Kevin Wall.