Syracuse Football: In new rankings, 4-star California recruit cracks top 250

Recruiting service 247Sports has updated and expanded its national rankings for the 2025 class, and Syracuse football four-star target LaMason Waller lll from the west coast resides within the top 250 overall in these new ratings.

Waller is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound athlete in the sophomore cycle who in a recent interview spoke quite highly of the Orange program and the ‘Cuse coaching staff.

A standout for Sultana High School in Hesperia, Calif., Waller received a scholarship offer from Syracuse football in mid-January of 2023, according to his bio on the 247Sports Web site.

In total, Waller has landed more than 40 offers from a range of high-major programs, so certainly the Orange is going to face tough competition if it hopes to prevail in Waller’s recruitment.

Four-star sophomore athlete LaMason Waller lll has strong interest in Syracuse football.

In the new 2025 national rankings from 247Sports, Waller is rated four stars, No. 218 across the country, No. 11 at athlete and No. 25 in the talent-rich state of California.

When I penned this column on Wednesday evening, the industry-generated 247Sports Composite had him as four stars, No. 228 nationally, No. 12 at athlete and No. 27 in California.

At the time of this writing, the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking placed Waller as four stars, No. 243 overall, No. 16 at his position and No. 24 in California.

Finally, Rivals.com ranks Waller as four stars, No. 165 nationwide, No. 17 at athlete and No. 21 in California.

Per 247Sports, Waller is mainly being courted by college suitors as a wide receiver. As a sophomore for Sultana, he caught 64 passes for 1,057 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.

On the other side of the field, in the most recent high-school season, Waller totaled 36 tackles and two interceptions. Earlier this year, he was selected to the 2022 MaxPreps sophomore All-America second team.

In a recent interview that Waller conducted with SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister, the 2025 athlete said that he is in ongoing communication with Syracuse football wide receivers coach Michael Johnson.

The two of them have forged a great relationship, Waller says, adding about Johnson, “He’s a really good guy.”

This spring, Syracuse football coaches and Waller are hoping to get the top-flight sophomore to Central New York for a visit to the Orange campus, per McAllister’s piece.

Besides the ‘Cuse, Waller’s extensive offer sheet includes two-time defending national champion Georgia, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Boston College, Florida State, Houston, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, West Virginia, Utah, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami and Washington, among others.

When he talked to McAllister, Waller said that he’s interested in Syracuse football “a ton,” adding that the Orange is “in a good spot with me as far as recruiting.”