Recruiting services 247Sports and Rivals, in recent days, updated their 2026 rankings. A Syracuse football verbal commit has soared to four stars, and there are other things to pass along here from those refreshes via these two recruiting Web sites.
First off. As the early signing period for the 2026 class in football is set to arrive early next month, the Orange has 30 verbal pledges. This 'Cuse cycle is No. 25 overall, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. Over at the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking, the Orange's 2026 class is currently No. 30 nationally.
Head coach Fran Brown has Syracuse football well-positioned to land its highest-ranked cycle in the program's history since recruiting rankings were first published over the Internet.
Syracuse football 2026 commits make moves in ranking updates.
Last month, defensive lineman Alexander Haskell of the St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia flipped from Penn State to the 'Cuse. Per 247Sports, he is now a four-star prospect, as well as the No. 40 defensive lineman.
According to the 247Sports update, wide receiver Calvin Russell lll of Miami Northwestern Senior High School is five stars and No. 23 overall. Wide receiver Amare Gough out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Va., is also four stars, per 247Sports, and the No. 37 wide receiver in this class.
Russell is the highest-ranked pledge for the Syracuse football program in more than 20 years. Within the Orange's 2026 cycle, besides Russell being five stars, six other 'Cuse commits are rated four stars by at least one recruiting service.
They are:
•Wide receiver Amare Gough out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Va.
•Defensive lineman Alexander Haskell of the St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia
•Defensive back Tedarius Hughes of Miami Northwestern Senior High School
•Edge Kamron Wilson of Miami Southridge Senior High School
•Edge Jarius Rodgers of Fleming Island High School in Fleming Island, Fla.
•Offensive tackle Javeion Cooper of Melbourne Central Catholic in Melbourne, Fla.
All six of these Syracuse football pledges are ranked in the top 550 nationally within the 2026 class by either the 247Sports Composite or the Rivals Industry Ranking.