Marlowe Wax, the linebacker out of Syracuse, went undrafted in 2025, but his rookie season with the Chargers in 2025 showed flashes that could make him a serious force. He only got limited snaps, mainly on special teams, but by the end of the year, when the Bolts rested their starters, Wax stepped up, racking up 21 tackles and a tackle for loss. You gotta respect a guy who gets a chance and runs with it, even if it is late in the season.
The Syracuse Monster Who Got Overlooked
How did a guy with Wax's college production go undrafted? Seriously, it's wild. Back in high school at Mount St. Joseph, this Maryland native wasn't just a defensive star, he was an absolute beast on offense too, rushing for 1,330 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior while helping his team to a 10-2 record and a 2019 MIAA "A" Conference title. On defense, he put up a staggering 111 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, five sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and three interceptions in that same year. He was ranked the No. 77 running back in his class and the No. 37 player in Maryland!
Then he went to Syracuse and kept that same energy. As a true freshman, he played 11 games with one start, grabbing 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. By his sophomore year, he was a starter in all 12 games, hitting 60 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, one pass breakup, an interception, and a forced fumble. The dude just kept getting better! In 2022, he earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors with 91 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and even a blocked kick. His best season in 2023 saw him earn Second-Team All-ACC, crushing it with career-highs across the board: 110 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception, three pass breakups, and four forced fumbles. Even missing five games in his final collegiate season couldn't stop him from getting Honorable Mention All-ACC again, with 44 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a pick, a pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and another fumble recovery. This guy's college resume is stacked!
What His Rookie Season Shows for 2026
So, Wax got signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2025. Yeah, crazy right? He mainly crushed it on special teams, but those late-season snaps gave everyone a taste of what he can do. His preseason tape was actually better than his regular season flashes, which tells you he’s got the goods to earn a spot. The scouts saw it.
He might be 6'1" and 236 pounds, but this guy plays bigger than those measurements suggest. He's a brawler in the middle, a true run defender who puts his helmet into ballcarriers and doesn't back down. That 6.98 three-cone time at his pro day shows off his excellent lateral athleticism, too. You don't get that kind of agility and toughness every day, especially from a guy who literally fell through the draft.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Wax is positioned to build on those flashes. The Chargers even dropped a tweet back in January with "marlowe. wax. 📺", showing they're paying attention. Can he translate that college dominance and those rookie flashes into a bigger role? We're talking about a guy who brings the physicality, the smarts, and the athleticism. Keep an eye on Marlowe Wax, because if he keeps flashing like he did, he could absolutely shock some folks this year and prove why he was a steal.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.