Antwoine Higgins Jr., an All-American linebacker in the 2027 class from Ohio, has named a top six that includes Syracuse football, and he plans to visit the Orange in late January.
Love it.
Per Rivals, Higgins' top six features Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Indiana, Texas A&M and the 'Cuse. That's quite a list. Alabama, Ole Miss, Indiana and Texas A&M are in this season's 12-team College Football Playoff, while Tennessee participated in the CFP last term.
NEWS: Four-Star EDGE Antwoine Higgins is down to 6 Schools, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’3 225 EDGE from Cincinnati, OH is ranked as the Top EDGE in the Buckeye State⁰⁰Where Should He Go?https://t.co/SZ4DBNAYHU pic.twitter.com/GHVHBhvvj1
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 15, 2025
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Higgins, a four-star outside linebacker/edge rusher, is a standout at Anderson High School in Cincinnati. A few days ago, per his X page, Higgins was invited to compete in the 2026 Under Armour Next All-America game, which will take place on January 3 of next year in DeLand, Fla.
Anderson (14-1 ), in early December, reached the championship game of the Ohio High School Athletic Association ("OHSAA") Division II state playoffs. The Raptors were ranked No. 5 in Ohio this past season, according to MaxPreps.
Syracuse football will host a junior day on Saturday, Jan. 31, when Orange hoops will play Notre Dame at the JMA Wireless Dome. Higgins plans to be on the Hill for this junior day, two sources told me on Wednesday.
Syracuse football has made a key list cut for 4-star LB Antwoine Higgins.
Higgins had an awesome junior campaign. Per MaxPreps, he tallied 26 solo tackles, 67 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, two interceptions and four pass breakups.
After a great conversation with @CoachWatkCUSE I’m blessed to receive an offer from @CuseFootball
— Antwoine Higgins jr (@5starrr_twon) August 9, 2025
🟠@CoachEvanDreyer @AllenTrieu @On3sports pic.twitter.com/LlsNfHMFv8
According to recruiting services, Higgins has landed more than 30 high-major offers. He was offered by the 'Cuse coaching staff, led by recruiting assistant Charles Watkins, in August of this year.
Notable college football programs that had offered Higgins, but didn't make his top six, include Georgia Tech, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt and Notre Dame, among many others.
Within the 2027 class, 247Sports places Higgins at No. 190 overall, No. 10 at linebacker and No. 3 in Ohio. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite, at the time of this writing, had him at No. 311 nationally, No. 21 at linebacker and No. 12 in Ohio.
The industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking, meanwhile, slots Higgins at No. 339 overall, No. 32 at edge and No. 12 in Ohio. On December 12, the Orange scored the top eight of 2027 four-star defensive end James Pace III, a top-70 national prospect who attends DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md.
To date, the Syracuse football staff has notched eight verbal pledges among high school juniors. The 'Cuse 2027 cycle is currently No. 8 around the country, according to the 247Sports Composite.