Syracuse Football: Duce Chestnut commitment is recruiting game-changer
By Neil Adler
Syracuse football will have the ability to build upon the commitment of 2021 four-star cornerback Duce Chestnut in a positive way.
Syracuse football landing 2021 four-star cornerback Duce Chestnut is a huge boost to the Orange’s recruiting efforts, and for several reasons.
For one, Chestnut gives the ‘Cuse its first four-star commitment in Syracuse football’s 2021 recruiting cycle. Up until now, the Orange had picked up a host of three-star prospects, but the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Chestnut puts Syracuse football on a whole new level.
The rising senior at Camden High School in Camden, N.J., is a top-25 cornerback nationally across his class, as well as a top-six player in the state of New Jersey. That’s monumental.
Plus, as Nate Mink of Syracuse.com notes in an article, Chestnut’s pledge to the ‘Cuse amounts to the team’s highest-rated recruit dating back to four-star cornerback Wayne Morgan in 2012, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Additionally, Mink writes that Chestnut represents the highest-rated commitment for Syracuse football in New Jersey “since wide receiver Andrey Baskin in 2007.”
Why is that so important? Well, as we detailed in a recent column, the Orange has secured commitments from a range of three-star prospects in the 2021 class of late, with those high-school players hailing from states around the country.
But, as Rivals.com said in an assessment of Syracuse football’s 2021 recruiting results amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ‘Cuse “has trouble recruiting locally because there isn’t a ton of talent, but New Jersey and New England used to be very good for them and they aren’t anymore. That’s a big problem.”
As such, Chestnut, who is from New Jersey, provides the Orange with a significant recruiting victory in that state, which could help facilitate Syracuse football notching other elite prospects in the 2021 class and beyond from closer-to-home areas such as New Jersey, New England and the mid-Atlantic region.
Moreover, the ‘Cuse has a pair of stars in its secondary, juniors Andre Cisco and Trill Williams, who both could bolt for the professional ranks after the 2020 campaign. Chestnut, arriving on the Hill in roughly 12 months, could aid in filling the potential void left by Cisco and Williams.
“They’re losing (Andre) Cisco and maybe Trill (Williams) so I could come in and earn my spot,” Chestnut told Rivals.com analyst Adam Friedman.
With Chestnut on board, Syracuse football has 16 commitments in its 2021 recruiting cycle, equally split among offensive and defensive players. This Orange class has moved up to No. 48 nationally according to Rivals.com, with 247Sports slotting the ‘Cuse at No. 52.
"More from Friedman. “Chestnut is a very instinctive defensive back with great ball skills. He should help provide plenty of momentum shifting plays while at Syracuse. The strength and conditioning coaching staff will help him become a more explosive prospect once he arrives on campus and the coaching staff should be able to slide Chestnut into the lineup fairly early in his career. He should find early success as a slot corner or even a safety.”"
Once he is in Central New York, Chestnut will undoubtedly shine on the field. However, even before he suits up for Syracuse football, Chestnut could have a massive impact on near-term recruiting for the ‘Cuse.