Syracuse RB Will Nixon will get another year of eligibility but will declare for the NFL draft

Syracuse, NY – Syracuse running back Will Nixon said his waiver for another year of college has been approved by the NCAA, but that he has also declared for the NFL draft.

Nixon shared both pieces of news on social media on Tuesday.

Football players with remaining eligibility can declare for the NFL draft but still return to college if they remove their names from the draft before the league’s withdrawal deadline. Last year’s deadline was February 7.

Nixon finished second at Syracuse last year with 443 rushing yards on 107 carries. He was also fourth at SU with 26 receptions and fifth with 187 receiving yards.

Pro Football Focus graded him 17th out of 59 players who played offensive snaps for the Orange last season and suggested he struggled in pass blocking.

Nixon previously said he plans to return to Syracuse next season because he wasn’t happy with how his college career ended.

When asked about Nixon’s desire to return during a radio interview, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown indicated that he was unaware of Nixon’s plans to return.

Will Nixon is the son of SU offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon.

With the expected departure of Will Nixon, Syracuse must now replace both of its leaders in snaps played at running back.

Nixon was time-shared last year with Yasin Willis, who has already said he plans to enter his name on the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Nixon played 432 snaps last year, while Willis played 323.

Nixon was the better pass catcher out of the backfield, while Willis was the stronger runner.

Syracuse took the first step toward replacing the production of two running backs on Tuesday when Ju’Juan Johnson committed to the Orange from LSU.

Johnson, a former high school quarterback, was a third-string back with LSU who was used with some regularity as a pass-catcher.

Syracuse also brings back third stringer Tylik Hill.

Nixon played six years of college football, but qualified for an additional year of NCAA eligibility because he used a traditional redshirt during one season and was limited to less than four games due to injury in two others.