Get to Know Your Syracuse Orange: , OL Joe Cruz

Name: Joe Cruz

Position: Offensive Line

Year: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 315 lbs.

Hometown: Holbrook, New York

High School: Sachem North

2025 stats: Started every game for the Orange- beginning at guard and then finishing at center. Didn’t allow a sack.

2026 projections: Cruz looks to be heading into the summer as the top option at the center position. He’s got experience and versatility and it looks like he’ll be the captain on the offensive line. While other players might be stepping into increased roles, having Cruz’s leadership on the interior could help to bring an improved performance from the group up front.

How’d he get here?: Chose the Orange over offers from Lafayette and Stony Brook.

What’d recruiting sites say?: Three stars across the board and ranked the 10th-best recruit in NY in his class.

Instagram: @joe_m_cruz

Interesting nugget o’interest: Back in high school, Joe was compared to Sachem legend Jumbo Elliott, who went on to play at Michigan and for the Giants. “I think the comparison is great,” said Cruz “Being compared to one of the greats that played at Sachem is just awesome and right where I need to be.”

Let’s get a look at ya: Here’s Joe off the field and back at his alma mater