The Orange will enter the 2026 season having completely rebuilt their offensive backfield.
In 2025, Syracuse 's running game ranked 13th out of 17 teams in the ACC, gaining just under 1,500 yards. The backfield recorded only 11 touchdowns, tying for the second fewest in the conference.
In the offseason, SU lost its two lead backs, Yasin Willis and Will Nixon. Willis led the Orange in rushing with 558 yards and four touchdowns in nine games before departing for Kansas in the transfer portal. Nixon, the team's secondary back, rushed for 432 yards and three touchdowns across 12 games before exhausting his college eligibility.
The Orange looked to the transfer portal to rebuild their running back room, starting with a commitment from LSU transfer Ju'Juan Johnson in January. Johnson spent two years at LSU, appearing in all 26 games. He began as a cornerback during his freshman season before switching to running back midway through the year.
At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Johnson possesses ideal size for a modern RB. He is also a versatile athlete, having played quarterback in high school before switching to defensive back in college. His receiving upside makes him the clear RB1 after recording 22 receptions for 94 yards with the Tigers over two seasons.
To form a true "one-two punch" similar to last year's setup, SU landed Jackson State transfer Ahmad Miller . Miller features a similar build to Johnson and boasts slightly better speed. He excelled at the FCS level during his time with the Tigers, appearing in 25 games over two and a third seasons while rushing for 2,365 yards and nine touchdowns on 217 carries.
Miller joins SU following a breakout 2025 season where he led the SWAC in rushing as the conference's only 1,000-yard rusher. Miller projects as an elite down-to-down physical runner, while Johnson provides fluid, dynamic playmaking out of the backfield.
It's currently unclear who will be named the starter between the two, but regardless, both should end up with the majority of the team's carries this season.
Beyond the transfer duo, there are several underclassmen looking to make a mark this season.
Returning sophomore Tylik Hill, who served as the third-string RB in 2025, recorded 129 yards on 24 attempts across eight games. Hill is a compact, explosive, quick-cut runner capable of maximizing limited opportunities.
Redshirt freshman Malachi Coleman, who shares a similar slim, quick profile to Hill, appeared in four games in 2025. Davion Kerr, who played mostly on special teams last season in seven games, is also in the mix.
Rounding out the room is true freshman Shavane Anderson Jr. , who possesses the physical archetype Fran Brown clearly favors.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/syracuse as How Syracuse Football rebuilt its running back room for 2026 .
