Syracuse, N.Y. —It was a good weekend to be a former Syracuse football player in the National Football League.
Several Orange football alums trying to stick on NFL 53-man rosters had standout performances in preseason games this past weekend.
Here’s a roundup of how former Orange football standouts did in week one of the 2025 NFL preseason:
Marlowe Wax, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers Camp Football
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Marlowe Wax (58) drills during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)AP
Wax, who signed as an undrafted free agent with Los Angeles after the 2025 NFL draft, popped with nine tackles and a sack for the Chargers against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.
Wax was L.A.’s second-leading tackler in a 27-13 win over New Orleans.
Wax concluded his SU career with 338 career tackles (212 solo), 42 tackles for loss, 21 sacks and 10 forced fumbles, which ranks second in program history behind College Football Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney.
Fadil Diggs, New Orleans Saints
Saints Chargers Football
Los Angeles Chargers running back Nyheim Miller-Hines (31) runs between New Orleans Saints defensive end Fadil Diggs (40) and cornerback Rico Payton (36) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin- Oncea)AP
Diggs had four tackles and a sack for the Saints in a 27-13 loss to the Chargers.
Diggs was selected in the seventh-round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Diggs, a 6-foot-5, 261-pound senior from East Camden, New Jersey transferred to Syracuse before the 2024 season after graduating from Texas A&M.
As a top pass rusher and team captain for the Orange, he started all 12 games and led the team in both tackles for loss (14) and sacks (7.5).
Jackson Meeks, Detroit Lions
Lions Falcons Football
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks (83) catches a one-yard touchdown reception as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (28) defends during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)AP
Meeks, who signed as an undrafted free agent with Detroit, hauled in three catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in a 17-10 victory over Atlanta on Saturday night.
Meeks’ solid day against Atlanta included a 68-yard reception from Lions’ quarterback Kyle Allen.
Meeks played the 2024 season with the Orange after spending the previous three at Georgia.
Meeks had 78 catches for 1,021 yards last season at Syracuse, marks that rank as the sixth-most catches in a single season in school history and second in the ACC last season.
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Titans Buccaneers Football
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker runs past Tennessee Titans defensive tackle James Lynch during the first half of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)AP
Tucker, now in his second-season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rushed for 50 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown in a 29-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night.
Tucker’s night against the Titans included a 23-yard burst.
Alijah Clark, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys Rams Football
Dallas Cowboys safety Alijah Clark (38) walks off the field during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)AP
Clark, who signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent, made five tackles in the Cowboys’ 31-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night.
Clark was taken to the locker room for evaluation of an injury during the second half of that game. His status going forward was unknown at the time of the writing.
LeQuint Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Steelers Jaguars Football
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (36) walks the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Steelers defeated the Jaguars 31-25. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)AP
Allen, who was selected in the seventh-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, was used primarily as a passing target in making four catches for 20 yards for the Jags in a 31-25 loss to the Steelers on Saturday night.
Allen left Syracuse as one of just six running backs in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
He set a program record for most receptions (119) and receiving yards (848) by a Syracuse running back.
Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers Football
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II runs drills during NFL football practice Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in El Segundo, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)AP
Gadsden, a fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, made two catches for 15 yards against the Saints on Sunday afternoon.
Gadsden’s stats through his rookie preseason are mild thus far (three catches, 22 yards) but he has received rave reviews from the Chargers coaching staff during the offseason and training camp.
Gadsden had two 900-yard seasons at Syracuse, one at wide receiver and the other at tight end. He combined for 13 touchdowns in those two seasons and was the first offensive skill-position player drafted out of Syracuse since the Orange joined the ACC in 2013.
Contact Brent Axe:Email|X|BlueSky
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