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ESPN names the player to watch in Tennessee-Syracuse game

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey08/29/25GrantRamey
Nov 25, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; General view of a Syracuse Orange helmet prior to the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; General view of a Syracuse Orange helmet prior to the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN stopped short of calling him the next Travis Hunter, but Syracuse two-way freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. will try to walk in those footsteps playing both wide receiver and defensive back for the Orange against Tennessee on Saturday in the Aflac Kickoff Game.

“Samuel reclassified into the 2025 class to enter college a year early,” ESPN wrote this week. “At just 17 years old, the 6-1, 195-pound freshman is set to feature prominently for the Orange this fall starting with Syracuse’s Week 1 matchup with No. 24 Tennessee on Saturday in Atlanta.”

Kickoff in the season opener for both teams is scheduled for Noon Eastern Time (TV: ABC) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Vols enter as a two-touchdown favorite.

‘Samuel stands as one of the most intriguing two-way talents across college football’

Samuel was a four-star prospect in the 2025 Rivals Industry Ranking, ranked No. 248 nationally, No. 17 at safety and No. 35 in the state of Florida. 

“A speedy tackler from Palm Bay, Florida, Samuel has legit two-way potential,” ESPN continued, “and the Orange intends to make the most of it in 2025. Syracuse coach Fran Brown announced earlier this month that Samuel will start at cornerback against Tennessee while also taking snaps at wide receiver, where the Orange are replacing their top two pass catchers from a year ago. 

“With Travis Hunter in the NFL, Samuel stands as one of the most intriguing two-way talents across college football.”

Trebor Pena, who caught a team-high 84 passes for Syracuse last season, transferred to Penn State. Jackson Meeks, who had a team-high 1,021 receiving yards, signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent. The duo combined for 16 touchdowns last season. 

Tennessee has its own questions to answer at both wide receiver and defensive back.

Jermod McCoy out Saturday vs. Syracuse

The Vols have a new-look wide receiver group after losing the top three receivers from last season in Bru McCoy, Squirrel White and Dont’e Thornton. All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy won’t play Saturday as he continues his comeback from the torn ACL he suffered while training in January. 

“They’ve got one of the best corners in the country in No. 3 (Jermod McCoy),” Fran Brown said during his press conference Monday in Syracuse. “Just watching him play. It’s tough with him, I hear they don’t know if he’ll play or if he does play. Shit, I would play him if I was them.”

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel didn’t any confidence when discussing his wide receivers — senior Chris Brazzell II, sophomore Mike Matthews and redshirt freshman Braylon Staley — on Thursday. 

“I expect them to play at an elite level I really do,” Heupel said during his appearance on The Mike Keith Show. “Those guys have continued to grow. It’s a relatively young group. Chris played a lot of football last year. The other guys played some or we got some true freshmen. 

“But how they’ve competed, grown, who they’re going against every day in practice, I got great trust in those guys and I expect them to play at a really high level.”

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