Syracuse Football Adds Soccer Player Quinn Olcott

The Orange bolster their special teams unit by adding a kicker from the men's soccer roster.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Soccer

Syracuse Football Adds Soccer Player Quinn Olcott

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Syracuse University has added Quinn Olcott, a member of the men's soccer team, to the football roster as a kicker. Olcott joins the squad as the third kicker on the team following recent kicking struggles.

Why it matters

The move aims to provide the program with an alternative option on special teams, as Syracuse currently leads the nation in missed field goals and extra points this season.

Quinn Olcott stands 6-4 and weighs 170 pounds. Shay Barker has converted 6 of 10 field goals and 11 of 15 extra points this season, while Tripp Woody recorded a 3-6 mark on field goal attempts.

The players

Quinn Olcott

He is a junior at Syracuse University who competes as a member of the school's men's soccer team.

Shay Barker

He is a kicker for the Syracuse football team who has converted 6 of 10 field goal attempts this season.

Tripp Woody

He is a kicker for the Syracuse football team who was 3-6 on field goal attempts during the current season.

Fran Brown

He serves as the head football coach for Syracuse University and hosts a weekly show where team updates are shared.

The details

The addition of Olcott follows a period of inefficiency on special teams that saw Tripp Woody go 3-6 on field goals before being replaced by Barker. Woody remains listed as available for the next contest despite the new competition at his position.

The roster addition was announced on October 29, 2026, during the Fran Brown Show.
Syracuse plays its next football game against SMU on October 31, 2026.

Season Trajectory

Syracuse's move to recruit an athlete from the soccer program mirrors the broader trend of NCAA programs utilizing multi-sport roster flexibility to address position-specific performance gaps. This strategic addition is intended to stabilize the kicking game as the team navigates its current schedule.

The introduction of Olcott provides depth at the kicker position as the team prepares for its matchup against SMU. Fans can expect potential rotation changes on field goal and extra point units if recent inaccuracy trends persist.

The takeaway

Adding a student-athlete from another sport is a traditional method for college programs to quickly address roster depth issues. Success in this instance will depend on how quickly Olcott can adapt to the specific demands of football placekicking.