The Syracuse Orange will head into the 2024 season with the potential for a much improved offense.
One of the reasons for optimism is the talent and depth they are building among the tight end group. On3’s Jesse Simonton ranks the Orange tight end group 4th in the country behind Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina.
Top 10 College Football Tight End Units per @JesseReSimonton
Do you agree? https://t.co/TM0qMUUuC1 pic.twitter.com/juJZL3YSyn
— On3 (@On3sports) May 6, 2024
Here’s what Simonton had to say about
The Orange have assembled one of the more uniquely talented tight end rooms in 2024. Oronde Gadsden II is back after getting bit by the injury bug last season (just two games played). In 2022, Gadsden — a 6-6, 220-pound hybrid slot-tight end — had 61 catches and six scores at 15.9 per reception. Syracuse also returns former Michigan transfer quarterback turned tight end Dan Villari, who did a little bit of everything for a beat-up Orange offense last year.
‘Thunder Dan’ had 20 catches and three scores, but Villari also served as a pounding Wildcat quarterback late in the season (55 carries for 326 yards and two scores). He made some huge plays — as a runner and passer — to help Syracuse upset Pitt and Wake Forest. The Orange inked 4-star freshman Jamie Tremble in the 2024 class, and he will vie for the No. 3 spot this fall.
In addition to these three, Syracuse brings back an experienced blocker in Max Mang and David Clement, who could surprise as a 6’7” red zone weapon.
We didn’t see much of this group in the spring game as Gadsden was out and Tremble hasn’t gotten to campus yet, but there is a lot of versatility among the group. Jeff Nixon can use Gadsden and Villari together without signaling to the defense what play to expect.
If Tremble is ready to step in, it’s possible the three tight ends could be used in formations together and we all know Villari is a triple threat on offense.