- Ernie Davis won the Heisman Trophy in 1961.
- Jim Brown holds the single-game rushing touchdowns record in Syracuse history with six against Colgate in 1956.
- Don McPherson was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1987.
The Syracuse Orange football program was founded over 130 years ago. They’ve won one national championship (1959).
Through the 2024 college football season, the Orange’s most recent bowl game was the 2024 Holiday Bowl. Their NCAA fb odds were -17, and they won by 17, beating Washington State 52-35.
Their football odds can be bet online at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
With so much history with the Orange, I attempted to sort through their top five players.
See the results below.
5 Best Syracuse Orange Football Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Orange Years |
| 1 | Ernie Davis | RB | 1959-1961 |
| 2 | Jim Brown | RB | 1954-1956 |
| 3 | Don McPherson | QB | 1983-1987 |
| 4 | Floyd Little | RB | 1964-1966 |
| 5 | Larry Csonka | FB | 1965-1967 |
Syracuse Orange All-Time Greatest Football Players
1. Ernie Davis
Davis played at Syracuse from 1959 to 1961.
He was part of the 1959 national championship team.
Additionally, he won the Heisman Trophy (1961) and the Chic Harley Award (given to the college football player of the year), was a unanimous All-American, consensus All-American, second-team All-American, and two-time first-team All-Eastern, and the school retired his No. 44.
He had 28 rushing touchdowns (sixth in program history).
Over his three-year career, he ran 360 times for 2,386 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and those 28 rushing scores.
He added four touchdowns in the receiving game.
Davis is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
2. Jim Brown
Brown is considered one of the best NFL running backs of all time, but before he landed in the league, he played for Syracuse from 1954 to 1956.
While there, he was a unanimous All-American, third-team All-American, two-time first-team All-Eastern, and the program retired his No. 44.
In 1956, he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. That season, he ran 158 times for 986 yards (6.2 yards per carry).
Against Colgate, he ran for six touchdowns, a Syracuse single-game rushing touchdown record.
In the Cotton Bowl, he had 132 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and kicked three extra points in a 28-27 loss to TCU.
He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
3. Don McPherson
McPherson, the first quarterback on this list, suited up for Syracuse from 1983 to 1987.
He won the Maxwell Award (college football player of the year), Davey O’Brien Award (best college quarterback), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (top upperclassmen quarterback), and Sammy Baugh Trophy (top collegiate passer). He was a unanimous All-American, first-team All-East, and second-team All-East, and the school retired his No. 9.
He is a member of the Syracuse Football All-Century team and finished second in the 1987 Heisman Trophy voting.
He threw for 5,812 yards (fifth), 46 touchdowns (fifth), had 7,063 total yards (sixth), and 65 total touchdowns (fifth).
He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
4. Floyd Little
Another running back, Little, came to Syracuse shortly after Davis (in fact, Davis persuaded him), suiting up from 1964 to 1966.
He was a three-time first-team All-American and three-time first-team All-East, and the school retired his No. 44.
He ran for 2,704 yards (seventh) and 35 touchdowns (second).
He finished fifth in the Heisman voting in both 1965 and 1966.
He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
5. Larry Csonka
A fullback, Csonka was at Syracuse from 1965 to 1967.
He was a unanimous All-American, first-team All-American, two-time first-team All-East, and second-team All-East, and the school retired his No. 39.
Over his career, he ran 594 times for 2,934 yards (fifth) and 19 touchdowns.
He was also named MVP of the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, and the College All-Star Game.
He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
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