Syracuse football 2024 rankings climb with pledge from national prospect

The Syracuse football 2024 class got a bump in the national rankings this week after the Orange received a verbal commitment from a three-star athlete from Virginia.

In recent days, Elijah Washington said on Twitter that he would verbally commit to the ‘Cuse, giving the team 17 pledges to date in the rising-senior class.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Washington, who attends Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Va., is nationally ranked by both of the industry-generated composite rating systems. He picked up a scholarship offer from the Orange in late May.

Washington, also an all-state basketball player for Lake Taylor, held football offers from squads including Virginia, West Virginia, Rutgers, East Carolina, Elon, Liberty, Temple, Marshall, Old Dominion and Florida Memorial, according to his Twitter page and recruiting services. He suits up at tight end, wide receiver and as an edge rusher, per reports and recruiting Web sites.

The Syracuse football 2024 class is inside the top 50 across the country.

When I wrote this column on Thursday night, the Orange’s 2024 cycle had moved up a bit following the verbal commitment by Washington.

The industry-generated 247Sports Composite had this ‘Cuse class at No. 45 nationally, followed by No. 47 at Rivals.com and No. 53 at the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking. Additionally, the On3 Industry Ranking had the team’s 2024 cycle at No. 12 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

While hovering around the top 50 isn’t super glamorous, to me, it’s an encouraging sign for Syracuse football recruiting. I say this because in the 2023 class, the Orange possessed some really sub-par national rankings.

As far as 2024 is concerned, the ‘Cuse secured three verbal commitments this spring, 12 in June, one in July and now also one in August. About a month ago, Rivals.com national analyst Adam Friedman weighed in on the Orange’s recruiting efforts this summer.

Syracuse football has two 2024 commits who are rated four stars by at least one recruiting service. They are quarterback Jakhari Williams out of the First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Ga., and wide receiver/tight end Jamie Tremble, who goes to The Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners, Ga.

Washington, meanwhile, is a consensus three-star prospect in the 2024 cycle. At the time of this writing, he was No. 716 overall, No. 40 at tight end and No. 12 in Virginia, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

Over at the 247Sports Composite, Washington came in at No. 814 nationally, No. 82 at athlete and No. 17 in Virginia.

"In an interview with SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister, Washington said of his verbal commitment to the ‘Cuse, “I’m excited to continue to ball and do what I do. Perfect fit. They’re getting a dog.”"

Heck. Yeah.