Here’s a unique story coming out of Syracuse. This tale brings together NIL opportunities, the fame of a 4x NBA champion, and some serious big-man energy all in one. But first, is Shaquille O’Neal’s nephew playing football for the Orange? Word got around that Coach Fran Brown has a 6’8”, 380-pound offensive lineman on his team who’s related to the 7’1” legend. 

You can’t blame people for linking Byron Washington and Shaquille O’Neal. The resemblance and frame are striking. The vibes? Even more so. Turns out, they go back to the OL’s high school football days in Texas.

On May 23, stateoforange posted an intriguing post on Instagram with an even more interesting photo reading “Shaquille O’Neal’s ‘nephew’ plays at Syracuse” and the caption—“Is Syracuse OL Byron Washington related to Shaq 🧐👀” But the real answer just came out straight from the mouth of Byron Washington himself.

Washington said, “He’s not my real uncle. Playing in Texas high school football, you get a lot of lights on you. They make videos. There was a video that came up like the Shaq high school football….100K views. I’m headed to the next game next week. I think it was a Tuesday. I see my Instagram and Shaq, he commented, he said ‘DM me.’ I tapped on it. is this a fake page?” Of course, there’s every reason to feel skeptical. Imagine getting a comment from one of the greatest NBA legends! But it gets more interesting. 

Next thing you know, Shaquille O’Neal took his number and was FaceTiming him. “I couldn’t believe it,” Byron Washington recalled. “Ever since then, it’s been love.” The big man even hit him with that classic millionaire-unfiltered advice—“Go buy mama that house.” And that coming from someone like Shaq, the young rising star took it to heart. 

Sure, with his frame, Byron Washington is aka Big Baby. He might be built like an NFL tackle already. But he’s still a mama’s boy at heart. Close with his mom, Brittany Lewis, he’s known for both his on-field dominance and his calm demeanor off the field, enjoying video games and time with special needs individuals. “A lot of people assume that I’m just this big, mean, angry guy, but when people get to know me and see me for who I am, they’re surprised,” he said. “The internet, they picture me as one person, but when you truly get to know me, I’m a great person to be around.” He’s got the frame, he’s got the maturity, and now, thanks to Fran Brown, he’s getting the discipline. 

Byron Washington speaks on Fran Brown’s strict NIL stance

Now, let’s come to why Syracuse might be the no-nonsense locker room in the country. Fran Brown’s got this program locked down tighter than a Nick Saban practice session, and it all starts with NIL discipline. The Orange’s average NIL value is a modest $19.2K, which is miles away behind Alabama’s $213K. But the HC isn’t here begging boosters for bigger bags. Instead, he’s focusing on accountability.

During a State of Orange podcast appearance, both Demetres Samuel Jr. and OT Byron Washington spilled the beans on just how tight the NIL leash is under Fran Brown. Miss more than two classes? Get fined. Forget your jug or your film tablet? Another $50 fine. Miss Friday weigh-ins? That’s a quarter of your monthly NIL check gone. Keep messing up, and your whole check vanishes.

Washington added, “If you don’t make weight, you gotta gain two pounds or lose two pounds a week. You see people trying to starve on Thursday, people trying to eat on Thursday. Because you know that quarter coming if you don’t make it.” It’s ruthless. It’s intense. But it’s working.

Fran Brown’s not just building a football team. He’s building pros. And Big Baby Byron? He’s proof that with a little Shaquille O’Neal-sized inspiration and a lot of discipline, Syracuse might be cooking up something special.