Steve Angeli’s transfer to Syracuse was going as Fran Brown would have hoped. We got a glimpse when the QB1 took down Dabo Swinney’s Clemson in Week 4. For Orange faithful, it was like witnessing Kyle McCord 2.0. The Notre Dame transfer had finally arrived, but fate had other plans. As he goes through this painful realization, none other than Kyle McCord is becoming his pillar of inspiration.

In their game against Clemson, the Syracuse signal-caller came out with an Achilles tendon injury. The injury should have been like a battle scar after a mounting win against Clemson at their Memorial Stadium. Except when Angeli fell against Clemson, we found him attended by the trainers, unable to put weight on his leg. Crutches then became a last resort for him. Wearing protective gear and dejected, Angeli exited the field. The score was 27-14 at the time, and Syracuse never gave away that lead. Now, in a concerning development for Syracuse, Angeli has given an update on the injury.

“Yesterday, I had successful surgery on my torn Achilles. I appreciate all the texts and phone calls wishing me well and a speedy recovery. I’ve learned through life and football that God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle, and I couldn’t be more fired up for the challenge to fight through this, become a better man and a better player,” wrote Angeli on his IG account, sharing a photo from the hospital.

Kyle McCord, a former Syracuse QB who broke all-time ACC passing records last year, sent a powerful message to Angeli. “Comeback gonna be crazy,” wrote Kyle McCord. It’s a fitting message from a QB who himself has been an inspirational story for Syracuse and sealed his place as one of their legends.

After Ryan Day decided to go with Riley Leonard instead of McCord, he too had felt that uneasiness in the air, that knot in his throat. It was like the world was falling apart for him. No one expected him to land at Syracuse, but at a well-known power program. However, McCord trusted Brown, and the rest is history. Steve Angeli was on a similar trajectory after he couldn’t get at the front of the QB race at Notre Dame. Fran Brown got him in the portal, and except the Tennessee game, Steve Angeli looked like he found his home. But it’s just a setback. Angeli’s Syracuse journey is far from over.

Fran Brown sends a heartfelt message to Steve Angeli

For now, Rickie Collins will take up the QB1 job, who came from LSU on a transfer and is talented in his own right. Collins, so far, has 99 passing yards to his name in the 2025 season and has been used sporadically by Fran Brown. So, it remains to be seen how all of it plays out and if Syracuse will turn towards the transfer portal. Maybe Nico Iamaleava, who is being touted to land in several places after DeShaun Foster’s sacking? As for Steve Angeli, Fran Brown sent a heartfelt message to his QB.

“It seems like he won’t be here for a couple of weeks right now. I love Steve. I’m so thankful for all that he’s done. Steve will always be the leader of our football team. We’ve just got to support and rally around him. Make sure he’s straight. He’s tough, right? That’s our guy, but Ricky got in the game and he’s able to play, so that was the point getting two quarterbacks, right?” said Fran Brown at the post-game presser after the Clemson game.

Steve is a redshirt junior and has another year under his belt to prove his mettle. By the looks of it, Fran Brown will probably go with Rickie Collins for now, which should leave enough room for Steve Angeli to make a comeback. All in all, it’s a huge gut punch for Syracuse and Fran Brown, who was looking to repeat or even exceed his 10-win season.