Over the past 15 years, Syracuse football has seen a handful of high school prospects who hail from New York state head elsewhere for college. In recruiting, that happens.
Additionally, the Orange hasn't been super relevant on a national stage over the last couple of decades, save for a few bowl-game appearances here and there. Yes, SU won 10 games in both the 2018 and the 2024 seasons.
Head coach Fran Brown, who is entering his third term at the program's helm, wants to rebound from a disappointing 3-9 mark in the 2025 campaign, when the team had issues at quarterback after starter Steve Angeli went down. The defense, too, was pedestrian last year.
Still, Brown has the team on the up and up as it relates to recruiting. The Orange's 2024 and 2026 classes are the top two in program history during the modern recruiting services era, and 2027 is also trending toward being one of the best on the Hill.
Earlier this month, four-star running back Elijah Kimble verbally committed to Syracuse football. The 'Cuse staff kept Kimble, a standout at Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y., home, which is awesome.
Over the last 15 years, though, Syracuse football has missed on some New York-based recruiting targets.
Messiah Hampton, 2026 four-star wide receiver
The top-150 national prospect out of James Monroe High School in Rochester, N.Y., had the Orange in his top seven and took an official visit to the Hill. However, he opted to head to Big Ten Conference powerhouse Oregon. It's all good, though, as the 'Cuse would ultimately land 2026 five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell III from Florida.
Tirek Murphy, 2020 four-star running back
Murphy held a scholarship offer from Syracuse football. The standout at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, N.Y., was ranked No. 281 overall, No. 22 at running back and No. 1 in New York within his cycle, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. He committed to Purdue out of the Big Ten Conference.
Israel Abanikanda, 2020 four-star running back
Abanikanda, out of Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., was an Orange recruiting target. In his class, he was a top-200 national prospect, a top-15 running back and the No. 1 player from the Empire State. He pledged to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Pittsburgh.
Tyrone Wheatley Jr., 2015 four-star tight end
Wheatley, an SU target, played at Canisius in Buffalo. The Orange wasn't able to keep him home, as Wheatley, a top-15 tight end and the No. 1 prospect out of New York in his class, committed to Michigan out of the Big Ten.
Chad Kelly, 2012 four-star quarterback
The 'Cuse had offered a scholarship to Kelly, but he ended up at fellow ACC member Clemson. Kelly attended the St Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo. He was the No. 1 player from New York in his cycle and ranked No. 101 nationally, per 247Sports.
Akeel Lynch, 2012 four-star running back
Lynch held a Syracuse football offer but committed to Penn State. The top-15 running back and the top-five prospect from New York state in his class suited up at St. Francis High School in Hamburg, N.Y.
Ishaq Williams, 2011 five-star defensive end
Williams was offered by SU, and he was also a highly ranked prospect in 2011. Per the 247Sports Composite, the standout at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn resided at No. 26 overall, No. 3 at outside linebacker and No. 1 in New York within his class. He committed to Notre Dame.
Al Page, 2011 four-star defensive tackle
The top-125 national prospect in his class, per 247Sports, held a Syracuse football offer. New York's No. 2 player in his cycle, out of Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx, ultimately picked Rutgers. Yuck.
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