Syracuse Football: Consensus 5-star, nation’s No. 1 safety, is visiting ‘Cuse

We’ll have to see what 2024 commitments the new Syracuse football coaching staff ends up landing in the near future, but I’ll tell you what, the Orange’s list of official visitors this weekend is pretty darn ridiculous, in a good way.

It’s tough to keep up, frankly. I’ve written numerous articles this week about various 2024 four-star players planning to go on official visits to the Hill this weekend. I’ve probably missed a few guys, so please check out this column from SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister for full details.

In any event, word broke on Friday morning about a massive visitor for the ‘Cuse this coming weekend. Top national analyst Steve Wiltfong, the director of recruiting for 247Sports, said via his X page that consensus 2024 five-star safety KJ Bolden from Georgia is visiting Syracuse football this weekend.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Bolden, who verbally committed to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference squad Florida State in early August, is a standout senior at Buford High School in Buford, Ga., near Atlanta.

Syracuse football is hosting 2024 five-star safety KJ Bolden on a visit.

According to Wiltfong, Bolden is good friends with 2024 four-star edge KingJoseph Edwards, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound player who is on an official visit to the ‘Cuse this weekend. Edwards, a top-300 national prospect per ESPN, is a senior at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Ga.

Edwards reportedly has Syracuse football in his final three and plans to announce his college decision on December 19. Multiple national analysts on the 247Sports Web site, Rivals.com and the On3 Web site have in recent days logged predictions in the Orange’s direction for Edwards.

In Wiltfong’s post on X, he said that Bolden has a “good relationship” with new Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown, quoting Bolden’s father. Most recently, Brown served as the defensive backs coach at Georgia.

Several media reports have indicated that Bolden has received a scholarship offer from the Orange coaching staff. Per recruiting services, he has amassed more than 40 offers throughout his recruiting process.

Besides Florida State and the ‘Cuse, Bolden’s full offer sheet includes schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Arkansas, Boston College, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Southern California and West Virginia, among others.

Per 247Sports, Bolden is scheduled to officially visit Florida State on December 15. According to his X page, in recent days, Bolden has conducted in-home visits with FSU, Auburn and Georgia.

All of the primary recruiting services rank Bolden as five stars, a top-16 overall player, the No. 1 safety and a top-four prospect in Georgia within the 2024 cycle.

Beyond Bolden and Edwards, other 2024 players who are expected to officially visit Syracuse football this weekend include three-star quarterback Whit Muschamp from Tennessee, four-star running back Yasin Willis from New Jersey, 2024 four-star defensive back Koy Beasley from Ohio, 2024 four-star defensive back Josh Philostin from Florida, 2024 four-star cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr. from Tennessee, 2024 four-star wide receiver Jaylan Hornsby from New Jersey, and 2024 four-star wide receiver Emanuel Ross from New Jersey, among others.