The top candidate to take over for LeQuint Allen.
It’s time to start preparing for the 2025 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 for Year 2 of the Fran Brown Era.
Up next is…
Name: Yasin Willis
Position: Running back
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 226 lbs.
Hometown: Newark, NJ
High School/Previous College: Saint Joseph Regional High School
2024 stats: Appeared in 11 games, primarily as the second running back behind LeQuint Allen. Finished with 36 total carries for 130 yards and one touchdown on the ground and eight catches for 26 yards. Had a career-high 62 yards and his lone end zone score versus UNLV. Also returned 10 kickoffs for 212 yards.
2025 projections: Based on his role the prior year, fans can expect Willis to be the top back in 2025, but in an unconventional way. Allen brought plenty of production in multiple areas on offense. Willis can certainly run and the usage will be unquestionably higher, but he’s largely unproven everywhere else, like catching passes out of the backfield, Expect Willis to start and get the most touches, but also for other running backs to cycle in.
How’d he get here?: Committed to the Orange over offers from Ole Miss, South Carolina, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and several other schools.
What’d recruiting sites say?: Four-star and the No. 1 New Jersey recruit on Rivals; Three-star on ESPN, 247Sports and On3
Winners Get Washed: Duke Cannon — “Work harder. smell better.” The only combo a lead running back needs.
Instagram: @yasin6willis
Twitter: @willisyasin6
100%COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/xbcOEcvtlu
— Yasin Willis (@willisyasin6) December 11, 2023
Interesting nugget o’interest: Willis graduated from a high school that has had plenty of football talent walk through its halls, including former NFL linebackers Junior Galette and Vinny Ciurciu plus Devin and Jason McCourty.
Let’s get a look at ya: The spring tape from 2024 that first got Syracuse fans excited: