Syracuse, N.Y. — Sophomore running back Malachi James is entering the transfer portal, he said Sunday.

Sharing the news on social media , James hinted he was being forced out of the program, saying he “hoped to stay.”

“I want to be clear: I hoped to stay at Syracuse, but circumstances beyond my control make it best for me both short-term and long-term to begin a new chapter elsewhere,” James said in his statement.

James, among the fastest players on the team, was a record-setting track star in New Jersey but has struggled to crack the rotation at running back.

James played sparingly in the team’s first two games this season before injuring his back.

He played in six games last season as a true freshman and saw his most usage come on special teams. James returned eight kickoffs for 1

See Full Page