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Steve Angeli named starting quarterback for Syracuse

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey08/18/25GrantRamey
Steve Angeli, Syracuse Football | Syracuse Athletics
Steve Angeli, Syracuse Football | Syracuse Athletics

Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli has been named Syracuse’s starting quarterback, beating out LSU transfer Rickie Collins to start for the Orange against Tennessee on August 30 in Atlanta. 

Volquest’s Brent Hubbs reported on Sunday night that UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar had beaten out redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre to be the starting quarterback for the Vols, which was then confirmed by Tennessee. 

Tennessee and Syracuse meet in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on August 30, scheduled for a Noon Eastern Time kickoff on ABC.

Steve Angeli at Notre Dame: 772 yards, 10 touchdowns, 1 interception

Angeli appeared in 21 games over the last three seasons at Notre Dame, throwing for 772 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception. He completed 72.5% of his passes , going 58-for-80. 

He was 34-for-44 for 504 yards and had seven touchdowns in eight games as a sophomore in 2023. He was 24-for-36 for 268 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games last season. 

Collins appeared in four games over the last two seasons at LSU, going 7-for-7 for 38 yards and running seven times for 37 yards. 

“I’m thankful that I get an opportunity to have a quarterback battle,” Syracuse coach Fran Brown said last week. “There’s a lot of programs who would die to be in the position that we’re in. To be able to have Steve and Rickie battle it out.

“After the second scrimmage, for me, I’m going to pick who’s going to be the guy. Who’s going to lead the team and we’re going to run with that guy. The other guy will be number two and we’ll just keep going.” 

Angeli replaces Kyle McCord as Syracuse’s quarterback, after McCord passed for 4,770 yards, 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 13 games last season, leading the Orange to a 10-3 season in its first season under Brown. 

Syracuse led all of college football in passing offense last season, at 370.0 yards per game.

Joey Aguilar at Appalachian State: 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns, 24 interceptions 

Aguilar, a native of Antioch, Calif., had transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA in December, after throwing for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions over 25 games in two seasons at App State.

He arrived in Knoxville in May and spent the summer learning Josh Heupel’s uptempo offense. He transferred from UCLA after former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava signed with the Bruins out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. 

Aguilar seemingly sealed the deal as Tennessee’s starting quarterback during the second scrimmage of fall camp Friday morning at Neyland Stadium.

“I thought he handled himself extremely well,” Heupel said afterward. “That’s today, but I think he’s got better, from day one up until today’s scrimmage. Really every single day. Comfort and control. 

“He’s handled himself extremely well during our night walkthroughs, which is mental focus, mental sweat. And because of that, he’s extremely comfortable in what we’re doing right now.” 

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