SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Former Syracuse football stars completed their final audition for the NFL on Monday.
Over 50 scouts from nearly NFL franchise (“over 30 teams,” per an SU spokesperson) were present at the Ensley Athletic Center to watch the Orange workout.
14 Syracuse players participated in Pro Day – most notably, QB Kyle McCord, DB Alijah “Cinco” Clark, RB LeQuint Allen Jr., TEOronde Gadsden II, and DL Fadil Diggs. Those five participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month, but Syracuse also had some players who were not at the Combine that we eager to make their mark at Pro Day – among them, LBs Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax and WR Jackson Meeks. Players from surrounding schools including Ithaca College and SUNY-Cortland worked out for scouts as well.
Here are the topics that garnered the most buzz around Pro Day
Marlowe Wax hits the gas in the 40 yard dash: Marlow Wax put on a show, running an official time of 4.51 in the 40-yard dash. He knew it, too—flashing a smile when reporters brought it up. After playing the second-half of the season after recovering from lower leg surgery in September, Wax was finally at full strength. “I would say I came back a little early but that’s just me, that’s just how competitive I am. I just wanted to be out there with my guys and help the team win.” He improved with every game and believes he can be a versatile player at the next level. “I can do it all, a guy who can show out on special teams, a true linebacker, a defensive leader,” said Wax. “That boy was moving. He looked good, he had a really good day. I am proud of him. You know coming back from the injury a lot of people doubted him. We feel for him, he’s our brother, he is the life of the team and you could see that by the way the team reacts,” Justin Barron said about Wax. DB Alijah “Cinco” Clark admitted that he felt Wax was operating at “55%” when he came back during the season.
Kyle McCord’s teammates can’t wait to see him shine: “I ain’t going to lie, he’s going to be the best quarterback in the NFL,” said Clark on McCord. “He’s going to be a starter, he’s one of those guys that’s going to be like Tom Brady. I know I am making a big statement for Kyle, but I told those scouts you better hurry up and draft him, it is going to help your job.” Alijah Clark said as he didn’t hold back on his confidence in McCord’s future. Jackson Meeks shared a similar sentiment. “He might have a gold jacket for real though, if the right team gives him the opportunity he might have a gold jacket.” McCord, however, kept things in check. “I’d tell them to slow their roll. I gotta get drafted first and get on a roster.” McCord said that he believes his time at Ohio State playing behind C.J. Stroud, now of the Houston Texans, has prepared him to be a backup in the NFL if necessary.
Fran Brown’s influence on Kyle McCord declaring for the Draft: After applying for an NCAA waiver to retain a fifth year of eligiblity, uncertainty on whether Kyle McCord would return to Syracuse surrounded the end of the 2024 season. McCord said Monday that SU head coach Fran Brown told him to leave.“It wasn’t an easy decision to go, but when your head coach is telling you to go ahead and chase your dreams, it’s kinda hard to go against that.” said Kyle on the discussion they had. “There’s nobody in the world who would want me to come back to Syracuse more than him, and so for him to tell me to go ahead and to go to the NFL was everything I needed to hear.” McCord has known Brown since he was a child playing in youth leagues in New Jersey.
While the outgoing players await their fate at the NFL Draft, which runs April 24-26 in Green Bay, WI, the current roster is ready to get to work. Spring practices for Syracuse football begin at the end of the week.
