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Former Cal linebacker David Reese announced on Instagram Monday night he’s transferring to Syracuse. Reese has played seven collegiate football seasons, spending 2018-22 at Florida before transferring to the Golden Bears before the 2023 season. The linebacker is eligible for an eighth season because he redshirted in 2018, received an extra COVID-19 year and has medical redshirts for injuries from 2019 and 2021.
Across his tenure at Cal, Reese registered 55 tackles and 11 sacks. While listed as a linebacker, Reese is primarily an edge rusher. He only dropped back into coverage on 37 snaps last year, per Pro Football Focus. Reese registered a 69.0 PFF grade last season, with his highest clip coming as a pass rusher (71.1 grade).
Reese joins a Syracuse defense that’s been decimated by graduations. At linebacker, Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron have each graduated. Meanwhile, its top edge rusher, Fadil Diggs, is also out of eligibility. At edge rusher, the Orange are headlined by David Omopariola, Denis Jaquez Jr., Chase Simmons and KingJoseph Edwards. Last season, the four combined for six sacks — 1.5 less than Diggs accumulated himself.
Syracuse now has seven portal additions, as Reese joins Chris Thomas Jr. and Fran Brown Jr. on the defensive side of the ball.
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