Last season, Syracuse’s offense was derailed early when quarterback Steve Angeli tore his Achilles in a September clash with Clemson, a setback that exposed a thin bench and contributed to a dismal three‑win campaign.
The injury forced the Orange to rely on inexperienced backups, and the lack of depth showed up in the passing game, leaving the team with a 3‑9 record and an eight‑game losing streak that ended the season.
A New Depth Chart Takes Shape
This offseason the program addressed the void by adding three seasoned signal‑callers: Amari Odom, who earned a reputation as a change‑of‑pace runner after posting 467 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last year; Malachi Nelson, a former top recruit who transferred from USC, Boise State and UTEP; and Danny Lauter, who brings experience from Georgetown.
Coaches have positioned Odom as the likely second‑string option, envisioning him as a weapon in short‑yard and goal‑line situations, while Nelson is being groomed as a long‑term developmental piece, and Lauter adds further insurance behind the starter.
Angeli, now fully recovered, is aiming to reclaim the form that made him the nation’s leader in passing yards before his injury, hoping to stay healthy for an entire season and stabilize the offense.
The quarterback room overhaul comes as the team looks to bounce back from a turbulent year, with the new depth expected to provide the stability needed to compete in the upcoming schedule and perhaps restore the program’s momentum.