Head coach Fran Brown leads the team in the traditional the quad walk in front of Hendricks Chapel. The fans were able to get autographs from the players before the game. Syracuse Orange Spring Football Game 2025 played at the JMA Wireless Dome April 12, 2025. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comdennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y. — Mateja Pavlovich, a punter who plays for South Side High School in Hookstown, Pennsylvania, verbally committed to Syracuse last Friday.
Pavlovich announced his commitment on social media. He is expected to be a walk-on.
The punter seems likely to provide insurance next season behind starting punter Jack Stonehouse.
Stonehouse is one of the best punters in the ACC but is entering his final year of college eligibility. He averaged 45.7 yards per punt, ranking second in the ACC.
The Orange looks prepared for his departure, having received a verbal commitment from Jimmy Gregg, the top-ranked punting recruit in the country in the Class of 2026 according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.
According to MaxPreps.com, Pavlovich averaged 32.3 yards per punt last year, punting nine times in 11 games. He averaged 34 yards per punt the season before.
Pavlovich appears to be a gifted all-around athlete, having played offense, defense and special teams for his high school program, which finished 7-4 last season.
Pavlovich rushed 128 times for 711 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also made 33 tackles on defense.
Next season is the first year where college football programs are set to play with a roster limit of 105 players, however, that limit is flexible.
Schools can go over the limit in order to continue rostering players who are labeled “Designated Student Athletes.”
Those are players who expected to play in 2025-26 but would have lost their roster spot at their preferred school because of the limits.
The accommodation was made so that athletes who were members of the class in the House vs. NCAA class-action antitrust lawsuit settlement did not wind up hurt by the terms of the settlement.
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