Syracuse football: Buzz around the Orange ahead of the NFL Combine

Five Syracuse standouts headed to Indianapolis for 2025 NFL Combine

Last Thursday, the NFL released its full list of players invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, and of the 329 prospects invited, five wore the Syracuse Orange uniform last season — Quarterback Kyle McCord, running back LeQuint Allen, tight end Oronde Gadsden, defensive lineman Fadil Diggs, and defensive back Alijah Clark.

Syracuse is poised to have one of its most impressive draft classes in recent memory. Which, quite frankly, is incredible considering where the program was a year ago (2024), when not one Orange player was drafted or even invited to the combine.

And, with the combine right around the corner, let’s see what the world is saying about our guys:

QB Kyle McCord

McCord’s projections have been all over the board, with him going as early as the third round and as late as the sixth. NFL Media’s Chad Reuter recently projected McCord would be taken by the Los Angeles Rams with the 90th pick in the third round. The All-ACC Second-Team quarterback finished his year fifth among college QBs in passing touchdowns (34) and was the nation’s leader in passing yards (4,779 yards) — he also surpassed Deshaun Watson as the ACC record-holder for passing yards in a single season.

Most recently, McCord was named the top QB performer at the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, according to Wilson Football.

McCord soared up draft boards after he exceeded expectations at the East-West Shrine Bowl practices, consistently referred to as one of the standouts at quarterback (given Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders was in attendance but not taking part in drills). McCord earned a spot on the Shrine Bowl’s ‘East All-Practice Team’, and after a week of getting nothing but positive reviews, he elected to sit out during the actual playing of the Shrine Bowl.

RB LeQuint Allen

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is extremely high on LeQuint Allen. Kiper has Allen as the No. 3 running back available in this year’s NFL draft, behind only Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, ahead of even Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo. Allen earned All-ACC honorable mention after he finished the 2024 season as one of only two players nationally (Cam Skattebo, Arizona State) with over 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards — he was also the leader among FBS running backs with 64 receptions.

And, he’s certainly caught the attention of draft experts outside of Kiper, including ESPN’s Field Yates, who shared more praise for the Syracuse running back on X.

The expectation right now is Allen will fall somewhere between rounds four and seven. But, on social media, posts and/or opinions regarding Allen’s draft projections have almost all included the word ‘underrated’, and, given the back’s athleticism and pass-catching ability, I believe a strong showing at the combine (and some mutual interest between parties with a need for an RB) could really elevate his draft stock come April.

TE Oronde Gadsden

Oronde had a very productive East-West Shrine Bowl outing. Like McCord, the All-American and two-time First-Team All-ACC tight end was voted to the Shrine Bowl’s ‘East All Practice Team’, and, more importantly, he caught the attention of Eric Galko, Director of Football Operations and Player Personnel at the Shrine Bowl.

Galko called Gadsden ‘Mike Gesiki-esque’, referring to the similarities between the two players’ size, strength, and ability to haul in contested catches.

In late January, Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department projected Gadsden could go as early as the third round. Seeing ‘Shades of Darren Waller’, in their words, in the Syracuse standout. The scouting report written by BR’s Dame Parson praised Gadsden’s size and ability to fight through contact after the catch and versatility to assist in creating mismatches in the passing game, especially for linebackers.

Mel Kiper Jr. has Gadsden as the number-two rated H-back behind only Miami’s Elijah Arroyo.

DL Fadil Diggs & CB Alijah Clark

I have not seen or read much about the draft projections for these two. Diggs was voted ACC Honorable Mention at the end of the season after leading Syracuse in both tackles for loss (14.0) and sacks (7.5), however, Clark did not receive any ACC recognition despite finishing the season with 61 tackles (third on the team), 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, four pass breakups. Optimistically, either could go late in the sixth or 7th round —if they have a great combine showing— but the more likely avenue is un-drafted free agency.

The 2025 NFL Combine will take place from Feb. 24 through March 3. The specific start times (Eastern) for each day’s on-field workouts are as follows:

• Thursday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. — Defensive linemen, linebackers
• Friday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. — Defensive backs, tight ends
• Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. — Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
• Sunday, March 2-3 at 1 p.m. — Offensive linemen

You can watch these guys take part in the combine on NFL Network and fuboTV… And, I’ll be in Indianapolis reporting for @NunesMagician! You can follow our team coverage on X/Twitter (whatever you call it) @CarsonFowlerTV.