Syracuse Football: Fran Brown Gives Two Important Updates on Quarterback Situation

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Syracuse Football: Fran Brown Gives Two Important Updates on Quarterback Situation

Brady Farkas · Roundtable Sports

Wed, November 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM UTC ·

2 min read

Short-term update on Malachi Nelson

Nelson, a former top recruit from the high school Class of 2022, is now in his fourth program in four years. After starting at USC, he went to Boise State and UTEP before ending up with the Orange.

Though he started the season as QB No. 3 on the depth chart, Nelson has earned two starts for Syracuse, playing reasonably well in losses to Virginia and Louisville.

In three total appearances, he's 42-of-70 for 532 yards and three touchdowns. He has two interceptions and he's helped give the Orange double-digit leads in both of those games, but they weren't able to hold on for wins.

Nelson had ankle surgery after the Louisville loss and while Brown wasn't committal on his exact timetable for return, he did say hopefully he'd be back in a week or two.

Because of the new "age-based eligibility model," Nelson should have one more year of eligibility if he wants it next season.

Longer-term update on Steve Angeli

Speaking of eligibility, Brown indicated that the program is expecting to have Angeli back next season, though he also said they are just focused on the present.

Syracuse Orange quarterback Steve Angeli (9) warms up prior to the game against the Southern Methodist University Mustangs at the JMA Wireless Dome. Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The situation with Angeli is more complex. He began his career at Notre Dame in 2022, but redshirted after playing just two games. He then spent two more years with the Irish before coming to Syracuse in 2025. He played just four games after tearing his Achilles, so he earned a medical redshirt.

This is the fifth year that Angeli has appeared in a college season, and under those "age-based eligibility" rules, you are only supposed to get five seasons in five years, and there are no redshirts, regardless of health issues.

However, it appears that the NCAA is set to honor redshirts that were given under the old system, which would mean that Angeli could return - if he wants to.

Angeli is 98-of-172 this season in five games, throwing for seven touchdowns against five interceptions. He's gone 3-2 as a starter, beating New Hampshire, North Carolina and SMU while losing to Cal and Pitt.

Short-term update on Malachi Nelson

Longer-term update on Steve Angeli

Up next for the Orange