Syracuse Football: 4-star WR high on Orange is preseason All-American

Syracuse football coaches appear to be prioritizing four-star athlete/wide receiver LaMason Waller lll from the west coast in the 2025 class, with one recent media report saying that the Orange is trying to get him on the SU campus for a visit at some point.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Waller, a top-flight wide receiver who also plays on defense for Sultana High School in Hesperia, Calif., is rated in the top 300 nationally by virtually all of the primary recruiting services.

His offer list is ridiculously extensive, totaling more than 40 at this point. The ‘Cuse coaching staff offered a scholarship to Waller this past January, and he has spoken highly of the Syracuse football program in interviews.

Waller received All-America honors from MaxPreps as both a freshman and a sophomore. When MaxPreps national football editor Zack Poff recently unveiled his preseason junior All-America teams ahead of the upcoming 2023 campaign, Waller was placed on the second team as an all-purpose player.

Four-star prospect LaMason Waller lll says Syracuse football stands out to him.

In his sophomore year for Sultana, Waller hauled in 64 passes for 1,057 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. On defense, he boasted 36 tackles and two interceptions. MaxPreps named him to its 2022 sophomore All-America second squad as well as its 2021 freshman All-America second group.

Once a recent dead period in college football was lifted, per an article from 247Sports national analyst Greg Biggins, Waller heard from a flood of high-major programs. Waller said in that piece, “…I would say talking with Tennessee, Colorado, Pitt, Syracuse and Stanford all stood out for me.”

According to Biggins’ story, Waller seems to have upcoming visits planned to Tennessee and Colorado.

"Per the recent 247Sports article and other reports, Waller has forged a strong relationship with Syracuse football wide receivers coach Michael Johnson. Waller said, “I’m very comfortable with him (Johnson) and he really wants me to visit because I haven’t been out there yet.”"

Naturally, it will prove vital for the Orange coaching staff to get Waller to the Hill for a visit if the ‘Cuse hopes to prevail in his recruitment.

For what it’s worth, there are several predictions in Michigan’s direction for Waller between the 247Sports Web site and Rivals.com, but those projections came in March.

When I penned this column, Rivals.com had Waller at No. 194 nationally, No. 10 at athlete and No. 20 in California.

The industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking placed him at No. 245 overall, No. 37 at wide receiver and No. 22 in California. Over at the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, he was rated No. 266 nationwide, No. 39 at wide receiver and No. 27 in California.

Syracuse football is looking for its first verbal commitment in the team’s 2025 cycle. Not too long ago, 2025 four-star athlete Cameron Miller (cornerback/wide receiver) out of Winslow Township High School in Atco, N.J., put the Orange in his top eight, along with Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Illinois and Rutgers.