Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse football team entered the offseason with a laundry list of needs in the transfer portal, one that has only grown since the end of the season and running back Yasin Willis’ decision to enter his name into the transfer portal.

Syracuse head coach Fran Brown has already said he hopes to bring in multiple transfer quarterbacks, while defensive staffer Dre Kates solicited tape from defensive linemen and safeties on social media.

The Orange must also replace its starting running back and virtually all of its production from tight end, while rebuilding depth at linebacker and improving the offensive line.

In short, it’s easier to point out the areas where Syracuse doesn’t need help than the places it does.

That help will start to arrive on Jan. 2, when the transfer portal officially opens. The familiar wave of visits and commitments will likely follow.

Syracuse already has one visit reportedly scheduled for Jan. 3 from a quarterback.

Here are some names to know when the portal opens.

QB Marcus Stokes; West Florida

The quarterback will reportedly visit Syracuse on Jan. 3, the day after the transfer portal officially opens, indicating he is probably a priority.

Stokes is a former three-star prospect and was the No. 515 recruit in the country in the Class of 2023, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

He initially committed to Penn State and flipped to Florida. His FBS career was sidetracked after he was videotaped using racial slurs as he sung along to a rap song.

The Gators dropped him as a recruit after the incident and he wound up at West Florida, where he has spent three seasons.

He completed 60.6% of his passes last year, accumulating 3,297 yards. He threw 30 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

As a player transferring up, he profiles as the type of prospect that could be content competing with Steve Angeli and playing backup. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

QB Trey Hedden; Furman

Hedden is a second quarterback who fits the mold as a player transferring up who might be content to serve as an FBS backup quarterback.

Hedden told syracuse.com via social media that he expects to visit Syracuse shortly after the transfer portal opens and that he has a favorable opinion of offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon’s offense.

Hedden was initially ranked as the No. 2,492 prospect in the Class of 2024. He was offered by some of the better Group-of-Six schools out of high school including Toledo, South Florida and Appalachian State. Syracuse has a Toledo connection in defensive coordinator Vince Kehres

Hedden completed 68.5% of his passes last year for 2,967 yards, although he did throw 13 interceptions to 17 touchdowns. He would have two years of eligibility remaining.

QB Taron Dickens; Western Carolina

If there’s any high school program that Syracuse has close ties with these days it’s Miami Northwestern, where current wide receiver Darius Johnson and incoming freshmen Calvin Russell and Tedarius Hughes all played high school football.

So did Dickens, who completed 74.2 percent of his passes last season with 38 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

He’d be a good get. It’s hard to do any better, even at the FCS level.

The biggest question with Dickens is probably whether, with two years of eligibility remaining, he could find a better situation than entering a quarterback competition with Angeli.

WR Jayvan Boggs; Florida State

Boggs doesn’t play a major position of need but Darrell Gill Jr.’s decision to enter the transfer portal brings the wide receiver spot closer for the Orange.

Syracuse cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr. and wide receiver Darius Johnson are already publicly courting the high-end prospect from Florida on social media.

Samuel has already offered a welcome.

Boggs signed with Florida State last year as the No. 179 prospect in the country.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds, he caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman. That included a very nice game against North Carolina State (four catches for 56 yards) late in the year.

RB Peyton Lewis; Tennessee

The likely departure of Willis means Syracuse has an unexpected opening for a starting running back. Lewis was a third-stringer for the Volunteers this season and was poised to be the team’s backup next year.

Instead, he entered the transfer portal, likely in search of a starting opportunity.

On3.com reporter Pete Nakos put Syracuse on a list of schools to watch for Lewis, along with Virginia, South Carolina and Florida State.

Lewis carried the ball 70 times for 290 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He was a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 136 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 when he entered college. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

CB Daniel Harris; Georgia

Brown has brought in four Georgia transfers during his two seasons, so the connection is always going to be intriguing.

Harris is undoubtedly aware that coming to Syracuse produced positive results for his former teammates Jackson Meeks and Chris Peal when they struggled to get on the field for the Bulldogs.

Harris began the season as a starting cornerback for Georgia, but poor play and an injury contributed to a demotion. A step down to Syracuse could get him back to playing at a high level.

He was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 158 prospect nationally in high school as a member of the Class of 2023.

He would have just one year remaining, a potential hurdle given the presence of Peal and Samuel.

CB AJ Harris; Penn State

Harris played for Penn State the past two seasons but began his career playing for Brown at Georgia.

He was viewed as a likely first-round NFL draft pick at the start of the year but produced up-and-down results with the Nittany Lions.

He could still choose to enter the NFL draft but has also entered the transfer portal.

While it wasn’t the season he wanted, Harris did finish the year as a starter for the Nittany Lions and seems likely to command a very heavy price. Given Syracuse’s wide array of needs, a bidding war might not be the best choice.

EDGE Malachi Davis; Toledo

Davis committed to Syracuse under Dino Babers when he was ranked as a three-star recruit and the No. 1,385 prospect in the country. He eventually decommitted and went to Toledo, where he thrived under new SU defensive coordinator Vince Kehres.

Syracuse is desperate for help on the defensive line, making Davis a natural fit.

Davis’ 5.5 sacks last year were more than any Orange player had last season, and he earned the highest grade from Pro Football Focus of any Toledo defensive player with eligibility remaining.

Davis was All-MAC Third Team and would have one year of eligibility. He has already said he will enter his name in the transfer portal.

Saf. Braden Awls; Toledo

Just like his teammate, Awls plays a position of need and has thrived for Kehres last year.

Awls was an All-MAC First Team safety last season and has been among the conference’s leaders in interceptions the past two years. He finished tied for third with four in 2024, then led the conference with five this past year.

Awls has one year of eligibility remaining. He told syracuse.com that Syracuse is a possibility.

LB K’Von Sherman; Toledo

Syracuse’s need at linebacker isn’t quite so glaring given starters Antoine Deslauriers and Gary Bryant III can return, but the Orange certainly needs depth and appears to have a chance to upgrade.

Bryant earned the second-worst Pro Football Focus grade out of any ACC linebacker who played more than 200 snaps.

Sherman was an All-MAC First Team player last season, finishing with 94 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

LB Chris D’Appolonia; Toledo

D’Appolonia wasn’t quite as impressive as his teammate Sherman, but he could be a situational fit for the Orange. He finished last year as an All-MAC Third Team player.

Kehres puts a heavy emphasis on having linebackers that can operate in coverage, an area where D’Appolonia thrived last season. Among MAC linebackers he earned the fifth-best PFF grade for pass coverage.

Syracuse’s Bryant was graded as one of the worst linebackers in the ACC when placed in coverage.

D’Appolonia has entered his name into the transfer portal and told syracuse.com he is considering the Orange and expects to take a visit when the portal opens.