Year one under head coach Fran Brown for Syracuse Football was magical. 10 wins, a dominant bowl game victory over Washington State, and the ‘Cuse finished the season ranked in the final AP poll of 2024. However, the next year was a complete 180. They won a total of three games and lost the final eight games of last season. So, year three in the Fran Brown era leaves many fans with questions about what to expect. And, to that, one of those questions is what sort of production will the tight end position produce, and from whom?
The Departures
The Orange are losing their starting Tight end for the second consecutive season, Dan Villari. The 6’4’’ weapon played a significant role for the SU offense last season. Overall, Villari finished with the second most receptions on the team last year (39), and the third most receiving yards on the squad with 412. Also, the now-graduate saw some time in the backfield and acted as a wildcat quarterback a season ago.
All of that success was a big reason Villari signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in late April. Despite flourishing on the field, Villari meant even more to Syracuse in the locker room.
Landed in LA @Dan2Villari @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/dZ3OF7XdSC
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) April 26, 2026
All of that success was a big reason Villari signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in late April. Despite flourishing on the field, Villari meant even more to Syracuse in the locker room.
“I think he exemplifies DART (Detailed, Accountable, Relentless, Tough)," coach Fran Brown said at the conclusion of last year’s season finale. “If everyone on the team does what Dan does, we will reach all of our goals”.
Outside of Villari, the only notable departure is Wyatt Bowman. The redshirt freshman won’t suit up with Syracuse football in the fall in an effort to focus on the Syracuse men’s lacrosse season come springtime. All told in last year’s football season, Bowman appeared in four games, including the final three games of the season (Miami, Notre Dame, and Boston College).
The Newcomers
Coach Fran Brown and the ‘Cuse brought in Noah Meyers, the primary starter at Western Kentucky last season. The redshirt junior has two years of eligibility left and joined the Orange after he totaled 32 catches for 357 yards and added three touchdowns.
BREAKING: Western Kentucky transfer TE Noah Meyers has committed to Syracuse, @SWiltfong_ reports🍊https://t.co/kSYG7dYADj pic.twitter.com/7BTEqZ71ex
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 16, 2026
“I think [Meyers] will be a safety blanket for Steve Angeli and I think he will make some noise for Orange this year,” said ESPN’s College Football Senior Writer and Syracuse graduate Pete Thamel.
Along with Meyers, true freshman Carter Bashir joins SU’s tight end room in 2026. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound native of Philadelphia was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN.
The Returners
The primary player from last year’s team to battle with Meyers for the starting tight end spot is David Clement. The senior has been with the Orange his entire career and has seen good action. Clement has appeared in 36 games across his first three seasons with the ‘Cuse. However, the 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has only caught three passes, but believes he can do a little bit of everything just by learning from his teammates along the way.
“[Oronde Gadsden, SU’s all time leader in receptions and receiving yards by a tight end] a great route runner, Dan Villari a great worker with a great work ethic, and [former SU tight end] Max Mang just an elite blocker,” said Clement. “They all left their mark on me as a player, and I’m just trying to use all of their tools and make them into one”.
Other than Tremble, the Orange have two players who aim to contribute in some capacity this season: sophomore Daunte Bacheyie and redshirt sophomore Elijah Washington-Baker.
“Peeling Back the Orange” - DT speaks w/ CBA Alum & Syracuse Orange true freshman WR Daunte Bacheyie on what he’s learned from Dan Villari, playing WR or TE moving forward, getting to be on an Orange team w/ CBA teammates, playing as a true freshman, QB Steve Angeli, & More…… pic.twitter.com/ey2GcSWcgB
— DT Sports Media (@CallDT) November 30, 2025
Last season, Bacheyie appeared in 10 games, mainly on special teams. All told on offense, he finished with five catches for a total of 42 yards. Washington-Baker was also a consistent special teams contributor. The 6-foot-7, 245-pounder has only appeared in 17 games over his two seasons with the Orange. Last season, Washington-Baker played in every game on special teams and notched his lone career reception, a 17-yard score against Miami on November 8th.
The tight end position has been a key source of offense over the last four years for Syracuse. With Oronde Gadson and Dan Villari in the NFL, coach Fran Brown and the rest of the staff have to turn to a bunch of new players who have had minimal offensive production in a blue and orange uniform. Despite that, there’s plenty of depth and youthful energy at the position behind two experienced collegiate players such as Clement and Meyers.
You can find out which tight end gets the nod for Syracuse in its season opener against New Hampshire in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, September 5.
