Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord will be donning the orange jersey this coming season as he transfers to Syracuse University. The announcement was made by McCord's family to 247Sports' Tom Loy, signaling a significant early recruiting victory for new Orange coach Fran Brown. McCord, who exceeded 3,000 passing yards with the Buckeyes this season, is expected to step into the starting role for Syracuse as Brown takes over the coaching reins.

Hailing from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, which happens to be near Brown's hometown of Camden, McCord and Brown have long been connected. McCord made his mark as a standout high school star at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia while Brown served as an assistant coach at Temple (2019) and Rutgers (2020-2021).

With both being Jersey natives and products of the Northeast's football scene, the duo aims to invigorate a Syracuse program that has struggled in recent years, tallying a 24-36 record over the past five seasons. McCord brings a wealth of experience to the position, having appeared in 24 games during his three seasons with the Buckeyes.

McCord seized the opportunity to start all 12 regular-season games in 2023, following in the footsteps of Ohio State quarterback greats such as CJ Stroud, Justin Fields, Dwayne Haskins, and J.T. Barrett. Although McCord faced the challenge of reaching the elite standard set by his predecessors, he still had a productive season.

As a former four-star prospect, McCord impressively completed 65.8% of his passes, amassing 3,170 yards, throwing 24 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Under his leadership, the Buckeyes achieved an impressive 11-1 record. According to 247Sports, McCord ranks as the No. 10 transfer quarterback of the cycle. He closely trails Dillon Gabriel, who is set to transfer from Oklahoma to Oregon, and surpasses Will Rogers, who is making the move from Mississippi State to Washington.

In his quest to bring success to the Syracuse program, Coach Fran Brown is eyeing former Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon to coordinate plays for the Orange, as reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel. However, this potential hire is yet to be made official, with Nixon currently serving as the running backs coach for the New York Giants.

With McCord's impressive track record and Brown's dedication to revitalize the Syracuse program, it's an exciting time for Orange fans as they eagerly anticipate the upcoming season and the impact McCord will have on the team. As he takes the reins of the starting quarterback position, all eyes will be on McCord to lead the Orange to a brighter future.