Fran Brown Sees Grit, Leadership, and Competitive Fire in Steve Angeli as Syracuse Hopes to Rewrite Its Offensive Identity in 2025
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown isn’t easily impressed. A former defensive back with a relentless coaching style and a laser focus on culture, Brown built his reputation on toughness, discipline, and recruiting prowess during his rise through the college football ranks. So when he met Steve Angeli—the former Notre Dame quarterback who transferred to Syracuse this offseason—it wasn’t arm strength or stats that caught Brown’s eye.
It was something else entirely.
“What impressed me most was how he carried himself in the building,” Brown said during a recent summer media availability. “Steve walks in like he’s already been through the wars. He talks to every guy in the locker room, every trainer, every analyst. That’s not fake leadership—that’s who he is.”
For Syracuse, that kind of presence at quarterback was not just refreshing—it was necessary.
The Orange have struggled for years to find stability under center. Since Eric Dungey’s departure in 2018, the position has been a revolving door of promising but inconsistent talent. Coaching changes, scheme shifts, and offensive line woes didn’t help. When Fran Brown took over the program in December 2023, he knew that finding a quarterback who could command respect and deliver results was going to be one of the most important decisions he would make.
Steve Angeli quickly rose to the top of that list.
A former four-star prospect out of Bergen Catholic in New Jersey, Angeli committed to Notre Dame with dreams of being the next Irish signal-caller to lead them to national glory. He waited patiently behind Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner, then behind Sam Hartman, learning the system, developing his body, and staying ready. His patience paid off late in the 2023 season when Hartman went down with injury. Angeli stepped in during the Sun Bowl against Oregon State and delivered a poised, efficient performance, completing 15-of-19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He looked ready.
But with Hartman gone and Notre Dame bringing in a new wave of quarterback competition, Angeli opted for a fresh start. He hit the transfer portal looking for opportunity—and Syracuse was ready.
“I watched the tape from that bowl game probably five times,” Brown said. “Not just the throws, but how he responded to pressure, how he talked to his teammates, how he walked off the field after a touchdown. That’s what sold me. That’s what told me this kid is ready for the moment.”
Brown wasn’t the only one sold. New offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, who came over from the New York Giants, immediately identified Angeli as the type of quarterback who could thrive in his pro-style spread system. The offense Syracuse plans to run is not a gimmick-based, up-tempo attack like past iterations—it’s built around physicality, precision, and adaptability. Nixon wants a quarterback who can process quickly, throw with anticipation, and lead in the huddle. Angeli fits the mold.
“Steve sees the whole field,” Nixon said. “He understands coverages, he anticipates windows, and he’s not afraid to make the tough throw over the middle. But what really makes him stand out is how he makes everyone around him better. He’s got that rare calm under fire.”
That calm demeanor was forged in the crucible of Notre Dame’s high-pressure environment. Angeli has practiced against elite defenses, prepared in front of national media, and dealt with the weight of expectations that come with wearing the gold helmet. That experience, Brown says, gives him a unique edge over most college quarterbacks making a mid-career move.
“He’s already been in those big-time meetings, already been held to a very high standard,” Brown explained. “He’s not learning how to be a college quarterback—he already is one.”
At Syracuse, Angeli brings more than just experience and talent. He brings urgency.
This is a program with ambition but little recent success to back it up. Brown is trying to change that narrative—not with flashy promises but with accountability and toughness. Angeli’s work ethic matched that philosophy immediately.
From day one, he set the tone in the film room. Teammates noticed how early he arrived and how late he stayed. During spring practices, wide receivers like Umari Hatcher and Justus Ross-Simmons praised his consistency and communication. He wasn’t just showing up—he was elevating the standard.
“Steve makes us believe,” Hatcher said. “When he’s out there, you feel like everything is under control. That kind of energy spreads.”
Leadership like that isn’t common in transfers. Many arrive still trying to find their voice, tiptoeing around veterans or waiting for coaches to hand them authority. Angeli, though respectful, didn’t wait. He earned it quickly.
And his performance on the field backed it up. In the Orange’s spring game, Angeli went 11-of-14 for 186 yards and two touchdowns, showing chemistry with his wideouts and a solid command of Nixon’s scheme. He moved in the pocket with confidence, made clean reads, and, most importantly, took care of the football.
“Accuracy, timing, decision-making—those are the three things we need at quarterback,” Nixon said. “Steve checks all three boxes.”
Brown, too, was impressed by how Angeli responded when plays broke down. It’s one thing to look good on a clean pocket or during scripted series. It’s another to lead a two-minute drill when the second-team offensive line collapses. Angeli didn’t flinch. He didn’t yell or panic. He regrouped, adjusted protections, and kept attacking.
“That’s what the great ones do,” Brown said. “They make other guys believe in the huddle. They bring a calmness and a toughness that’s contagious.”
That word again—toughness. It’s not just physical, although Angeli has put on muscle and refined his footwork since arriving. It’s mental. Syracuse is betting that Angeli’s toughness will anchor the locker room through the ups and downs of a rebuilding process. Brown knows it won’t all be smooth sailing. The ACC is improving. The schedule is challenging. Mistakes will happen.
But in Angeli, he believes the Orange have a quarterback who won’t blink.
“He’s not afraid of competition, and he’s not afraid of work,” Brown said. “And that’s how we’re going to win here—not by talking about it, but by being about it.”
Angeli, for his part, has embraced the challenge without fanfare. He’s not interested in reliving his Notre Dame days or comparing situations. He speaks about his time in South Bend with gratitude and class but is fully focused on the opportunity in front of him.
“This is where I’m supposed to be,” Angeli told reporters. “Coach Brown believes in me. Coach Nixon believes in me. And I believe in this team.”
It’s a simple message, but it resonates.
For Syracuse fans, Angeli represents something they haven’t had in a while: stability and belief at the quarterback position. For Fran Brown, he represents something even more important—alignment. The kind of player who reflects the values the program is being built on.
Syracuse doesn’t expect miracles. They’re not asking Angeli to throw for 5,000 yards or win the Heisman. What they are asking is for someone to lead, to compete, and to represent the program with pride.
Angeli is doing that already—and he hasn’t even played a regular-season snap in orange and blue.
As training camp approaches and the depth chart begins to crystallize, all signs point to Steve Angeli being QB1 for the Orange this fall. But even if the job is not officially locked in, it’s clear who the team looks to in the huddle. It’s clear who Fran Brown trusts to run the offense. And it’s clear who impressed the new head coach the most—not just with talent, but with presence.
“Steve’s the kind of guy who changes the temperature in the room when he walks in,” Brown said with a smile. “And that’s exactly what we needed.”
The message is clear: Syracuse believes. And with Steve Angeli under center, they just might have found the quarterback who can lead them back into national relevance—one throw, one practice, and one belief-driven step at a time.
