Last December, Syracuse football scored a verbal pledge from 2026 four-star offensive tackle Javeion Cooper from the Sunshine State, who is currently one of the highest-ranked commits for the Orange in its top-15 national class in this cycle.
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Cooper, who hovers around the top 200 nationally per On3, remains high on the 'Cuse, he has said in recent interviews. At the same time, Cooper says that other suitors remain in hot pursuit of him, and the college squad that perhaps may have the best shot at flipping him is the in-state Florida Gators out of the Southeastern Conference.
This weekend, per reports and recruiting services, Cooper has been in Gainesville for an official visit with the Gators. Another in-state program, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Florida State, will host him on an official visit during the weekend that begins on June 6.
Then, on the weekend that starts on June 13, Cooper is expected to take an official visit to Syracuse football, which is led by head coach and ace recruiter Fran Brown.
Syracuse football 2026 4-star verbal commit Javeion Cooper may be on flip watch, experts say.
Cooper is a standout rising senior at Melbourne Central Catholic in Melbourne, Fla. As I've noted in numerous columns over the past few months, the Orange staff has been recruiting the Sunshine State extremely hard, and with strong success across its 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes.
That being said, it would be understandable if Cooper ultimately decided to stay home for college and suit up for a program such as Florida. Let's see how this all plays out.
Currently, On3 rates him just outside the top 200 nationally in the 2026 cycle, as well as the No. 20 offensive tackle around the country.
Brown and his assistants have recruited Cooper for a while now, offering him a scholarship on February 17, 2024, per his X account. In mid-April of this year, Cooper was in attendance at the JMA Wireless Dome for the Orange's annual spring game.
Over the next few weekends, Syracuse football is welcoming numerous 2026 four-star commits and recruiting targets to the Hill on official visits while also conducting late spring/summer camps. It's a busy time for the Orange program.
Naturally, I'll feel bummed should Cooper flip to another suitor, but I'll root for him regardless. These things can happen in the fickle recruiting world!