Syracuse Defense Preview 2025: The Orange D Is Ready To Hold Its Own

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2025 Syracuse Preview
Syracuse Offense Breakdown 
Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season

- The new parts coming in for the defense are for the line. Star pass rusher Fadil Diggs is gone, and now it’s on David Reese (Cal) and dominate. The former Florida Gator came up with 11 sacks and 16 tackles for loss over the last two years in Berkeley.

David Omopariola got his feet wet, but has the upside to take over on the other side, but Denis Jaquez will make a push after doing a good job in the rotation.

Veterans Rashard Perry and Dion Wilson Jr. will combine on the nose, and Chris Thomas (Marshall) is coming in for the other tackle spot after a 42-tackle, four tackle for loss season.

- Leading tackler Justin Barron is gone from the linebacking corps, and now it’s up to Anwar Sparrow to step up in the role on the weakside. Derek McDonald stepped into the middle gig when Marlowe Wax was hurt for a chunk of the season, making 55 stops. He’ll be one of the team’s leading tacklers again, along with …

- Duce Chestnut can do anything. In the secondary. He’s got just enough speed to shine at corner, but he found a role at decent-hitting safety. He was with Syracuse, left for LSU, and came back to finish second on the team with 62 stops.

Devin Grant was a monster at Buffalo in 2023 with five picks, taking two for scores, and last year stepped right into a safety gig with the Orange.

The safeties are good and deep, and they need to be with the question marks at corner. Davien Kerr got in a little work, and star recruit Demetres Samuel needs to show he’s ready right away in the rotation. 

2025 Syracuse Preview
Syracuse Offense Breakdown 
Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season