Three starters say they’re returning to Syracuse football in 2026

Syracuse, N.Y. — Redshirt junior quarterback Steve Angeli, freshman guard Byron Washington and sophomore running back Yasin Willis will return to Syracuse in 2026, they said Tuesday evening.

The three starters were asked about their status after Tuesday’s practice, and they each confirmed their plans to play for Syracuse next season.

Willis has not signed a revenue sharing contract for next season, he said.

Washington said he will let his agent handle negotiations.

Angeli, who is rehabbing a season-ending Achilles injury, declined to comment on contract negotiations. Angeli was the nation’s passing leader at the time of his injury on Sept. 20.

When asked about revenue sharing in July, head coach Fran Brown said to check in with him in December, when Syracuse will know its salary cap for the 2026 season.

Angeli is in the process of recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. He is off crutches and wearing a walking boot. He said he is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.

Brown has said he hopes Angeli will be ready for spring football.

“Me and Steve was just having that conversation last week,” Willis said. “Next year, when everybody come back and then when we get new guys that come in, we just gonna have to turn it up off the rip.

“I feel like we didn’t really set that tone early on in the season. Especially in the offseason. So, when these new guys come in here, it’s straight to business. We’ve got to tell them what the expectation is and they gotta live up to it every single day.”

Willis has been Syracuse’s primary downhill running back. Brown has challenged offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon to get the sophomore more involved in the offense multiple times this season.

Angeli’s injury has allowed defenses to stack the box and essentially neutralize the threat of Willis. He averaged 77.7 yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game with Angeli. Without him, Willis’s averages have fallen to 54.2 yards and he has yet to reach the end zone.

Washington has been one of the crown jewels of Brown’s 2025 recruiting class. The true freshman has averaged 36.7 snaps per game in seven appearances this season.

Syracuse seems to be putting the pieces together for next season. Angeli, Washington, Willis and freshman cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr. have all confirmed their plans to return.

Brown said Monday that Nixon and defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson will also return in 2026.

With the transfer portal opening from Jan. 2-16, Syracuse has about two months to retain the rest of its talent it sees as essential for the future.