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SAN DIEGO — Syracuse’s offense will look different in 2025. As it stands, Kyle McCord has no more eligibility. LeQuint Allen Jr. might be headed to the NFL. Oronde Gadsden II could be a Day 2 NFL Draft selection. Jackson Meeks’ college career is over.

Besides Trebor Peña, who head coach Fran Brown said will return in 2025, the engines behind a record-setting passing offense could all be gone. Even so, Darrell Gill Jr. showcased in the Holiday Bowl that SU’s 2025 quarterback — whether that’s LSU transfer Rickie Collins, Jakhari Williams, or McCord with an approved fifth-year waiver — is still well-positioned to thrive in Jeff Nixon’s offense.

In Syracuse’s (10-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast) 52-35 win over Washington State (8-5, 0-1 Pac-12), Gill registered a team-high 145 receiving yards on four receptions. It’s the sophomore’s second time eclipsing 100 yards across the Orange’s last three games, as he notched nine receptions and 185 yards against UConn in Week 13. With an increased role in 2025, Gill is set to become a focal point of SU’s offense.

While it took until later in the season for McCord and Gill’s connection to click, the two seemed to build a connection soon after the signal-caller transferred to Syracuse. In the Orange’s spring game, the pair connected on a highlight reel fourth down conversion.

But with how much depth SU had out wide, which also included Umari Hatcher and transfers Zeed Haynes and Justus Ross-Simmons, Gill struggled to get on the field to begin the season. He played 13 snaps in Week 1 and didn’t appear in the Orange’s win against Georgia Tech.

Four receptions and 55 yards, which nearly matched his respective seven and 60 freshman campaign, against Stanford led to increased snap counts throughout the rest of the season. However, it didn’t correlate much with an increased role. Until his breakout versus the Huskies, Gill didn’t exceed 55 yards in a game.

Like much of his success against UConn, Gill carved WSU’s defense down the field. On 20+ yard passes downfield against the Huskies, he registered three receptions for 95 yards on four targets, earning a 95.4 Pro Football Focus grade on such plays. Against the Cougars, Gill corralled three of four 20+ yard passes downfield for 128 yards, culminating in a 95.0 Pro Football Focus grade.

Darrell Gill Jr. eclipsed 100 yards for the second time in three games versus Washington State following a nine reception, 177-yard performance against UConn. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor

After a shaky opening drive, where McCord misfired all three of his passes, connecting with Gill sparked the best performance by a quarterback in Syracuse bowl game history. Back-to-back Allen Jr. runs advanced the Orange near midfield before McCord dropped back trying to complete his first pass. SU had two pass catchers on the line of scrimmage’s right and two on the left, where Gill was slotted out wide next to Peña in the slot.

Washington State corner Stephen Hall opposed Gill in press coverage, but the sophomore shook free from the defender by taking a stutter step to get free along the sideline. Though the defensive back recovered well, a perfectly placed back-shoulder fade resulted in an easy 29-yard completion. Two plays later, SU scored on a touchdown pass to Peña.

As Peña (108 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns), Gadsden (74 receiving yards, two touchdowns) and Meeks (five receptions, 110 receiving yards) all excelled throughout the game, Gill only received two more targets in the first half.

He turned that into another reception for 17 yards, beating defensive back Jamorri Colson over the middle of the field in the second quarter to get SU near the goal line. Allen Jr. scored the second of his three touchdowns two plays later, giving the Orange a 28-21 lead midway through the quarter.

On Syracuse’s first second-half drive, McCord instantly turned to Gill. With the Orange displaying 12 personnel pre-snap, Gill was the lone wide receiver lined up to McCord’s left. Colson again marked him. This time, he bit for Gill’s fake toward the middle of the field. With the perimeter open and no safety help over the top, Gill jolted down the sideline and McCord hit him in stride for a 50-yard gain — Syracuse’s biggest play of the game.

Though Gill only garnered one more target the rest of the game, it was another big-hitter. With SU ahead 42-28 in the fourth quarter, it faced a third-and-21. The Cougars dropped back into a soft zone, willing to give up a significant chunk of yards but not a first down.

As opposed to most of the game, Gill lined up to McCord’s right. Colson again was tasked with covering him but was 13 yards off the line of scrimmage. As McCord bought time rolling right, Gill broke open on a go route. McCord heaved the ball 49 yards downfield, putting just enough juice on the throw to land in Gill’s hands before safety Tyson Durant could track the ball down.

While he received just a 14.7% target share, earning five targets on 34 McCord attempts, Gill was Syracuse’s leading receiver in its first bowl game win since 2018. The road for the Orange to win 10 games again, which they’ve done three times this century (2001, 2018 and 2024), will look much different.

Instead of being propelled by Meeks, Peña and Gadsden in the passing game, SU will need Gill to take on substantially more ownership alongside Peña — and presumably Haynes — in 2025. Two of SU’s last three 2024 games were encouraging signs and more. With a larger role as a junior, Gill seems to be on the verge of becoming one of the ACC’s best breakout players next year.

Published on December 28, 2024 at 10:44 pm

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon