Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown has drawn significant attention from fans and media following his outspoken comments on the state of the transfer portal and the Orange’s ongoing roster rebuild.
Syracuse is currently linked to South Dakota offensive tackle Joe Cotton, as the program looks to strengthen its offensive line through the portal.
Why Fran Brown’s Transfer Portal Approach Could Get Joe Cotton
Following the portal’s opening last night, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that South Dakota offensive tackle Joe Cotton had officially entered the portal.
“South Dakota left tackle Joe Cotton has heard from 20 Power 4 schools since announcing plans to enter the transfer portal,” Nakos reported the week prior.
Cotton, who has two years of eligibility remaining, was an All-Conference player in 2024 and earned FCS Freshman All-American honors in 2023.
According to college football writer Chris Hummer, Cotton is currently the top offensive tackle in the portal, with nearly every major program pursuing him—including Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Penn State and Syracuse.
“South Dakota OT Joe Cotton has emerged as one of the most popular names in the transfer portal. His agency, QCSports, tells us he’s set for Cincinnati and Wisconsin visits. But many teams are reaching out to the portal’s top available OT,” Hummer wrote.
Brown Slams Transfer Portal After Trebor Pena Loss
Fran Brown recently made headlines after blasting the current transfer portal system, particularly following wide receiver Trebor Pena’s decision to leave Syracuse.
Speaking to ESPN Syracuse, Brown said the Orange had tried to retain Pena but ultimately couldn’t match his NIL demands.
“I love the kid. Trebor is my guy. … We paid him enough. He was going to get paid more. But there were some numbers I didn’t feel like I would be able to do,” Brown told ESPN.
Brown’s comments went viral after he criticized the rising costs of top-tier wide receivers in the NIL era, particularly calling out the idea of paying $2 million for a college WR.
“You gonna make $2 million at WR? That’s the homie at Ohio State (Jeremiah Smith). Ain’t nobody else making that money. I’m not giving no wide receiver $2 million in college. That ain’t me,” Brown told The Athletic.
KEEP READING: Biggest Surprises to Enter the Transfer Portal This Spring
In addition to his NIL criticisms, Brown also called out rival coaches for alleged tampering with Syracuse players.
“You better stop… I’m not gonna tell on you, I’m gonna come at you,” Brown warned.
The Syracuse Head Coach threatened.
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