Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse football built a decent chunk of its roster through the transfer portal in 2024 as a new coaching staff needed to find quality players in a hurry. After a year molding the culture to where they want it, Fran Brown and his staff weren’t as reliant on the portal in 2025. Of course, that could change after spring practice. However, there are a few additions from outside of last year’s team that are expected to shine when spring practice begins Friday. Here are a few newcomers that can make a name for themselves this spring. QB Rickie Collins Collins comes to Syracuse after two years at LSU, where he was believed to be next in line as the Tigers' quarterback. He has impressed the Syracuse staff so far with his arm talent and athleticism and will be squarely in the mix to be the starting quarterback next season. Collins served as the backup to NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier, who is expected to be selected in the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft. Given the success that has come from Baton Rouge recently, there is a sense of optimism around Syracuse regarding Collins. DT Chris Thomas Defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson made a name for himself as a defensive line coach. Last season’s defense had question marks and will be a unit to watch as a whole during the spring. One player the staff hopes will shore up the interior is Thomas. He comes to Syracuse in his final year of eligibility after two seasons at Florida and two at Marshall. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Thomas was an instrumental plug in the middle that helped Marshall win the Sun Belt championship last season. OT Naquil Betrand Betrand, an offensive lineman from the basketball city of Philadelphia, has spent his entire college career in the SEC. He redshirted as a true freshman at Texas A&M and transferred to Alabama after Jimbo Fisher was fired. After playing just one game for the Crimson Tide, Betrand joins the Orange with three years of eligibility remaining and will compete for a starting job somewhere on the offensive line, likely at right tackle. EDGE David Reese Brown said he wants his primary recruiting footprint to run from Canada to the DMV, with occasional trips to the Southeast, during a coaches' clinic just outside of Syracuse earlier this month. In need of a replacement for edge rusher Fadil Diggs, Brown’s staff went to Florida to grab Reese in his final season of eligibility. Reese is entering his eighth season of college football. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2018, missed 2019 and 2021 due to injury, earned an extra year of eligibility thanks to COVID in 2020 and played in just two games in 2022. Reese spent five years at Florida before transferring to California for two seasons. He was an honorable mention on the All-Pac-12 team in 2023 and averaged 5.5 sacks during his two seasons in Berkeley. Spring practices begin Friday afternoon for Syracuse and will be held through April 16, highlighted by the traditional spring football game on April 12.