SU’s top target is back from injury and ready to build off a monster 2022 campaign
It’s time to start preparing for the 2024 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces to kick off the Fran Brown Era.
Next up is…
Name: Oronde Gadsden II
Position: Tight End
Year: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 223 lbs
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
High School/Previous College: American Heritage (Plantation)
2023 stats: 7 receptions, 67 yards and a touchdown. Suffered a Lisfranc injury on the first offensive play against Western Michigan in Week 2 and missed the rest of the season. Granted a Redshirt Year.
2024 projections: Gadsden II is easily Syracuse’s #1 option in the passing game when healthy. The tight end exploded onto the scene with 969 receiving yards in 2022, the most by any TE in the country. Now, with Kyle McCord behind center, he certainly can lead the nation again this year. The biggest question with Gadsden II is his health and recovery process. A second surgery forced him out of spring camp, and it could take even more time before the receiving threat is 100%.
How’d he get here?: Chose the Orange over many other offers, including from Penn State, Kentucky, Arizona State, Baylor and West Virginia.
What’d recruiting sites say?: Three stars across the board
Social Media Info:
Instagram: @orondegii
Twitter: @orondegii
Interesting nugget o’interest: Gadsden’s father, Oronde Sr., was an NFL wide receiver from 1998-2003. If Gadsden II also plays professionally, the father/son duo would be in rare company. There’s only been one instance in NFL history where the son of a former wide receiver competed as a tight end (Randy Moss, WR and Thaddeus Moss, TE).
Let’s get a look at ya: Highlights from Gadsden II’s record-breaking 2022 campaign.