After a woeful loss to Kentucky at home on Saturday, Auburn fired its head coach, Hugh Freeze, on Sunday. He went just 15ā19 overall in his three seasons with the Tigers.
According to 247Sports, at least three 2026 high school prospects who have been verbally committed to Auburn held either a scholarship offer or interest from the Syracuse football coaching staff.
Might the Orange pursue any of these guys, if they decide to reopen their recruitments amid Freeze being let go? We'll have to wait and see.
Former Syracuse football targets who are verbally pledged to Auburn.
Adam Balogoun-Ali
Four-star linebacker in the 2026 class
Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Offered a scholarship by the Orange in February of 2024
247Sports Composite rankings: No. 303 nationally, No. 21 at linebacker and No. 39 in Florida
Peyton Falzone
Four-star quarterback in the 2026 class
Nazareth Area High School in Nazareth, Pa.
Offered a scholarship by the Orange in June of 2024
247Sports Composite rankings: No. 226 nationally, No. 18 at quarterback and No. 8 in Pennsylvania
I had an awesome time being back with @CuseFootball! I appreciate @FranBrownCuse @CoachNixon_Cuse @CoachNunz and the rest of the staff for having me up and making it feel like home. Iām excited to get back on campus very soon! #DART ššš pic.twitter.com/oba8mMBCUA
ā Peyton Falzone (@PeytonFalzone) December 1, 2024
Bralan Womack
Five-star defensive back in the 2026 class
Hartfield Academy in Flowood, Miss.
Offered a scholarship by the Orange in January of 2025
247Sports Composite rankings: No. 19 nationally, No. 1 at safety and No. 2 in Mississippi
Shout out to @CoachNickWill for stopping by to see me! pic.twitter.com/iDz3QdmJdE
ā Bralan Womack (@B_Mack02) January 29, 2025
So far in the 2025 campaign, numerous head coaches at high-profile programs have been fired, including at Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, Penn State, UCLA and Virginia Tech, among others.
Syracuse football coaches have shown an interest in several players who were verbally committed to Penn State, for one. Last month, 2026 three-star defensive lineman Alexander Haskell of the St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia flipped from the Nittany Lions to the Orange.
Isaac Chukwurah, a 2026 three-star defensive lineman, remains verbally committed to Penn State, but he's also keeping his options open. To that end, the senior at Caravel Academy in Bear, Del., is expected to officially visit the 'Cuse on November 29 for the team's 2025 regular-season finale at home against Boston College.
I'd also keep an eye on 2026 four-star defensive back CJ Hester of Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla. He is verbally pledged to Florida. Hester took an official visit to Syracuse football this past summer, and I've come across some articles indicating that the Syracuse football staff is in touch with him.
The Orange's 2026 cycle has 29 verbal commits and is ranked No. 28 overall by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.