Once presumed done with football, former Georgia and Syracuse wide receiver Zeed Haynes is now one of the most intriguing names in the transfer portal. After “putting the cleats up” earlier this year, Haynes shocked many by entering the portal ahead of the 2025 season. With three years of eligibility remaining and untapped potential, his comeback could shake up a wide receiver room if the right school takes a chance.
Former SEC WR ‘Put the Cleats Up’ But Now Is 1 of the Transfer Portal’s Biggest Surprises
Despite the Spring Transfer window closing over a month ago, there are still plenty of talented players available to transform schools overnight within the transfer portal as we prepare for the 2025 season to get underway.
Currently, according to College Sports Networks’ rankings, one of the best available players left for pickup in the transfer portal is former Syracuse Wide Receiver Zeed Haynes, who made a surprise move going into 2025.
Former SEC WR ‘Put the Cleats Up’ According To Syracuse Head Coach.
Syracuse WR Zeed Haynes has entered the transfer portal.
Hayes originally signed with Georgia as part of the 2023 class before transferring to Syracuse ahead of last season. The former 4-star has 3 seasons of eligibility remaining. pic.twitter.com/56J84wCvHX
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) April 24, 2025
Going into the 2024 season, many predicted that Syracuse Wide receiver Zeed Haynes would be WR1 for the Orange under Head Coach Fran Brown; however, that turned out not to be the case, as the receiver soft-launched his ‘retirement’ back in March.
When the Syracuse spring football roster was released, a notable name was missing. Zeed Haynes missed most of the 2024 campaign due to “family reasons,” and after early expectations that he’d return in 2025, head coach Fran Brown informed the media in mid-March that the former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver was not only leaving Syracuse but turning his back on football altogether.
Zeed Haynes is no longer with the Syracuse Football team. Haynes started the first two games of last season before taking time away for personal reasons.
“He’s going to dominate the work world,” Fran Brown said. “Great kid…we’re excited for him.” pic.twitter.com/2Uf86btbcD
— Samantha Croston (@SamCroston1) March 22, 2025
“He’s chilling. He’s in school. He’s getting a degree. He ain’t playing right now. He ain’t playing no more. He’s going to chill. He put the cleats up. But he’s going to dominate the work world. He’s a hell of a guy. Great kid. We’re excited for him.” Syracuse Head Coach Fran Brown explained the wide receiver’s absence.
KEEP READING: Mountain West Veteran Still in the Transfer Portal Could Anchor a Power Four Line in 2025
However, according to the announcement from ON3 Sports, Haynes made a surprising move as he had an apparent change of heart, entering the Transfer Portal back in the Spring. The receiver is yet to see any official visits or offers as he gears up for a return to football in 2025.
Despite only running 71 routes in his two seasons with Georgia and Syracuse, and seeing just 19 targets, there should still be some apparent interest in Haynes going into 2025 as the prospect ws fighting for the Wide Reciever 1 spot for Syracuse at one point, however with nothing on the table currently, a return to the Orange could also be likely.
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