Syracuse football is heading into a promising fall under second-year head coach Fran Brown, and one of the team’s most intriguing pieces is a player whose college journey started back in 2018.
That player is linebacker David Reese, now entering his eighth year of college football.
Yes, eight years.
Reese began his career at Florida in 2018 and, thanks to a combination of redshirts, medical waivers, and the NCAA’s extra COVID year, managed to play four seasons without losing eligibility. In that time, he was mostly under the radar, logging just two tackles in his fifth year with the Gators.
But things changed when he transferred to Cal. Over two seasons with the Golden Bears, he finally broke through with 11 sacks, proving he could be a disruptive force on defence. Now, after what The Athletic jokingly called a “2,800-mile transfer within the same conference,” Reese is suiting up for Syracuse for one final ride.
His journey earned him a spot on The Athletic’s “All-Geezer Team,” a nod to college football veterans whose careers have defied the usual timelines. And while the road has been long and unconventional, Reese now has a clear mission: to help Syracuse reach the next level.
For a team with big ambitions this season, Reese’s experience and production could play a crucial role. After years of waiting for his moment, he finally has a real chance to leave a lasting mark, not just as a veteran presence, but as a difference-maker on a team aiming high.