Pro Football Focus lists Oronde Gadsden as a Top 10 draft-eligible wide receiver for upcoming season

Published Jul. 11, 2023, 3:54 p.m. By Emily Leiker | eleiker@syracuse.com Syracuse, N.Y. — A lot more eyes will be on Syracuse football’s Oronde Gadsden this season, which could potentially be his last of college. Pro Football Focus listed Gadsden as the No. 8 wide receiver who will be eligible for for the 2024 NFL Draft. While the Orange lists him as a tight end, Gadsden is regularly included on lists of top wide receivers considering he pretty much acts as one and was quarterback Garrett Shrader’s top target through the air last year. He’s two spots above Florida State’s Johnny Wilson, the only other ACC player on the list. Gadsden finished a breakout 2022 season 969 yards and six touchdowns on 61 receptions. In his freshman season, when he was truly a wide receiver, Gadsden had just two receptions for 24 yards. PFF graded Gadsden at 82.2% for overall offense, second-best on the Orange to only Shrader. In a similar list Published by Phil Steele in his 2023 preview magazine, Gadsden is listed as the No. 13 available wide receiver. The junior was also named a third team preseason All-American and first team All-ACC by Steele. Gadsden’s father, Oronde Gadsden I, played seven seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver. He spent most of his career with the Miami Dolphins and was notably the last player to catch a touchdown from Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.