Instant Impact

Five incoming players who could make a significant impact this season.

Mike McAllister | Aug 8, 2021

Instant Impact /

Syracuse football has a group of talented newcomers entering the program. Here are five who could make an impact this season.

RB Josh Hough: A big, powerful running back, Hough comes to Syracuse after a record setting high school career. While Sean Tucker is expected to get a bulk of the carries, and Syracuse has depth with Jarveon Howard, Cooper Lutz and Abdul Adams, Hough has the potential to make an impact in short yardage situations. If he is successful there, he could carve out a larger role as the season progresses.

TE Landon Morris: Morris has a great frame at 6-6, 230 pounds. He runs routes like a receiver and has tremendous hands. Syracuse could use him as a red zone target or reserve receiving tight end option. Do not be surprised if he sees the field early.

DL Jatius Geer: Perhaps the most underrated, underhyped recruit in Syracuse's 2021 class, Geer has the potential to be the best player from it. Geer will see the field this season and could provide a quality reserve pass rushing option for the Orange.

DB Duce Chestnut: Chestnut is the highest rated incoming freshman on the defensive side of the ball for Syracuse. With departures in the secondary, Chestnut is expected to see the field right away. He is talented enough that he could earn the starting cornerback spot opposite Garrett Williams.

DB Jason Simmons: Simmons was one of the most coveted defensive back prospects in the transfer portal and comes to Syracuse from New Mexico State. He did not play in 2020 as NMSU cancelled the season due to the pandemic. Simmons can play corner or safety, and should fill into one of the spots vacated by players who left for the NFL.

Published Aug 8, 2021

MIKE MCALLISTER

Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.