The Syracuse Orange needed to address their cornerback position after finishing in the middle of the pack in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed per game in 2024. They also lost their top two players to the 2025 NFL Draft or the transfer portal. Clarence Lewis signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent, while Jayden Bellamy transferred to the UCF Knights.
The Syracuse Orange landed a former highly rated recruit
According to Hayes Fawcett, Syracuse landed former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Chris Peal for the 2025 season, reuniting with Fran Brown, who recruited him in Georgia. As Fawcett points out, Peal was a four-star, the No.9 overall cornerback, and a Top-85 recruit from the 2023 recruiting class per On3. He has three years of college eligibility remaining.
BREAKING: Georgia transfer CB Chris Peal has Committed to Syracuse, he tells @on3sports
The 6’2 195 CB was ranked as a Top 85 Recruit (No. 9 CB) in the ‘23 Class (per On3)
Will have 3 years of eligibility lefthttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/R10XG6bNXp
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 5, 2025
Here’s a quick review of his college career
Chris Peal didn’t play much in each of his first two seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, and if he did, it was in mop-up duty. Peal redshirted during his true freshman season after recording one tackle in one game and six defensive snaps. He spent time as a reserve defensive back as a redshirt freshman, with one tackle in four games and 18 defensive snaps.
He entered the transfer portal after the spring portal had opened.
Fans react to the news
Cooking with hot grease
— tom (@TommyOranges) May 5, 2025
Who loves it when a Georgia player transfer to Syracuse ❤️
— Elcapitan (@Themyguy17) May 5, 2025
Syracuse on the rise
— 12x National Champs 🏆🌹 〽️ (@umichfancpr) May 5, 2025
Smart decision young man 🍊🎯
— Brandon (@BrandonTC123) May 5, 2025
Fran Brown 👨🍳
— Big Blue, Let’s Ride (@BobbyColdCuts1) May 5, 2025
Frannnnbn pic.twitter.com/CDNmW1zxt5
— Thumser (@JeffreyThumser) May 5, 2025
Fran is on a heater right now.
— Tarohn Finley (@TarohnFinley) May 5, 2025
— Joey Weinberg🎗️ (@sipofweinberg) May 5, 2025
Cuse actually building a squad
— Buckeye Intel (@BuckeyeIntel) May 5, 2025
Massive transfer get for Syracuse to shore up its defensive backs room. Chris Peal originally committed to Georgia in 2022 when Fran Brown was UGA’s DBs coach. Now, the two reunite in central New York.
Could Peal see his production jump from SEC to ACC à la Jackson Meeks? https://t.co/Fa74gGwTvP
— Cooper Andrews (@cooper_andrews) May 5, 2025
