2026 Syracuse Football Preview: Running Backs

In the era of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL), there is a lot of turnover from season to season in college football. Entering 2025, Syracuse had seven running backs on its roster. After an unexpected 3-9 season, the ‘Cuse lost five of those players and head coach Fran Brown had holes to fill. With recruiting being one of the traits that he is known for, who did coach turn to during the offseason?

So Long, Partner

For a second straight season, the Orange will not have their starting backs return. Coach Brown last year utilized a committee of running backs that included Yasin Willis and Will Nixon. Willis, who spent his first two years with SU, led the team in rushing yards last season with over 550.

It did not take long for the running back to shine his sophomore year. In week 1 against No. 24 Tennessee, the elusive weapon had nearly 100 yards and three touchdowns. “He’s the best player on the team from an offensive perspective,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said after the game.

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But unfortunately when the transfer portal opened later on, Syracuse was not able to retain its primary rusher.

On January 7, 2026, Willis committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks. So with half of the committee gone, what happened to Nixon? The redshirt senior graduated after playing five seasons of college football, the last two of which he spent with the Orange. Nixon was SU’s primary pass catcher at the position. Not only did he have the second most rush yards on the team, but he had 26 catches for nearly 200 yards last year.

Another notable departure for Syracuse was Jaden Hart. The junior spent most of his career at Syracuse bouncing around at the running back position and special teams before transferring to UConn back in January.

The final player to hit the portal for the Orange was Malachi James. The redshirt sophomore will be playing at Eastern Michigan next season after being sidelined the majority of last season due to a back injury.

And finally, preferred walk-on Tyler Chandler is the last player to not return back to the ‘Cuse after spending the last three seasons in the 315.

Fresh Faces on the Hill

So with the one-two-punch in Willis and Nixon gone for Syracuse along with most of last year’s running backs, head coach Fran Brown looked to none other than the transfer portal.

The first back recruited to the Orange was Ju’Juan Johnnson. The junior spent his first two seasons at LSU, but had originally committed to play cornerback. Halfway through his freshman year, due to injuries, Johnson’s position was switched and he never looked back.

Last season, he rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns, but the Tiger running back was flashy with his hands. Johnson had 17 catches for 72 yards, and has the potential to fill out a similar pass catcher role that Nixon did for SU the last two years. “He understands the running back position and he’s just going to continue to get better now that he’s just at one position on offense,” Syracuse offensive coordinator and running back coach Jeff Nixon said.

So with Johnson potentially serving as a receiving option in the backfield, Coach Brown also went to the portal to find his primary rusher that Willis was last year.

Jackson State Ahmad Miller committed to the Orange just one day later. The redshirt junior had a breakout season in 2025 after rushing for over 1,000 yards and averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Miller was the Tigers leading rusher last year and had five games where he recorded over 100 yards on the ground. Now that he is no longer in the FCS and will face better competition, it will be interesting to see how his game translates to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Miller and Johnson are expected to be in a committee rather than a battle for the primary running back spot, similar to how Willis and Nixon were utilized in 2025. “Both of them have good hands and are solid in all three phases of running back play,” SU running back coach Jeff Nixon said.

The final member of this 2026 running back group recruited by Fran Brown did not come from the portal, but from high school. Freshman Shavane Anderson Jr is a three-star rated recruit by 247Sports and is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds.

Welcome Back

Two members of the running back room from 2025 are still with the ‘Cuse for this upcoming season, the most notable one being Tylik Hill.

The true sophomore had the third most rush yards for Syracuse last year with 129, and averaged the most yards per carry on the team with 5.4. Hill was also used on special teams as well last season. He had 260 kickoff return yards, the most on the team.

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Another back from 2025 to stay with the Orange is Malachi Coleman. The former three-star prospect used his redshirt last year and appeared in only three games.

The final running back on the 2026 roster is Davion Kerr, who switched over from wide receiver. The true sophomore had two catches for 13 yards last year, but also got reps on special teams. Kerr had 119 kickoff return yards, the second most on the team behind Hill.

For Syracuse, the running back position is one of the most critical as we have seen them be utilized by head coach Fran Brown and offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon in all sorts of ways. In the Orange offense, they help protect the quarterback, run with the ball when their number is called upon, or even act as another option for the passer to throw to.

So who will get the call this year and have to step up when it matters most? That question will be answered when Syracuse hosts New Hampshire in its season opener on Saturday, September 5.