4-star LB, top-40 national prospect once pledged to Syracuse football, back on market

Izayia Williams, an elite four-star linebacker in the 2026 class who at one point earlier this year was verbally committed to Syracuse football, is back on the market following his latest de-commitment from a fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Williams, who is ranked inside the top 40 nationally of his cycle by several recruiting services, recently de-committed from Florida State, according to various media reports. The Seminoles, by the way, are having an awful 2024 season.

Williams gave a verbal pledge to 'Cuse first-year head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff in mid-April of this year. But then in early August, he de-committed from the Orange and would have a top three moving forward of Florida, Florida State and Miami, per reports at that time.

In early September, Williams verbally committed to FSU, but now it appears that he is resetting his recruitment after backing off his pledge to the Seminoles.

Syracuse football coaches have made the Sunshine State a recruiting focus.

From what I've heard, even after Williams de-committed from Syracuse football, the Orange staff has remained in touch with him, so it wouldn't surprise me if 'Cuse coaches make another pursuit of Williams, who is a standout junior at Tavares High School in Tavares, Fla.

That being said, as far as I can tell, top-five Miami seems to be a significant contender for Williams, who visited the Hurricanes late last month. A recent article from Rivals.com national analyst John Garcia Jr. noted that suitors such as Georgia, Alabama, Miami and Southern California are among those currently on Williams' mind.

Regarding his de-commitment from Florida State, Williams said to Garcia, "I just feel like I have more stuff to see. I'm starting to get (offers) from bigger schools that I feel like could be a better fit for me."

At the time of this writing, both the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking placed Williams in the top 100 nationally of the 2026 class. ESPN and Rivals.com, meanwhile, rate Williams as a top-40 national prospect who is also in the top five at linebacker in this cycle.

While it may prove a long shot for Syracuse football coaches to land a second verbal pledge from Williams, the Orange staff has done a great job recruiting the state of Florida within the 2025 and 2026 classes.

In late September, 2025 four-star athlete/defensive back Demetres Samuel Jr. of Heritage High School in Palm Bay, Fla., flipped back to the 'Cuse from the Florida Gators.

As I noted in other recent columns, several Syracuse football targets recently had excellent visits to the Hill, including 2025 five-star edge Javion Hilson of Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla., and 2026 four-star defensive back J'Vari Flowers of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, among others.