Wednesday marked the start of the traditional signing period for high school seniors, and I didn’t expect a ton of activity for Syracuse football, because the Orange officially signed the bulk of its 2024 pledges during the early signing period in December.
However, one pleasant surprise did roll around, as 2024 three-star athlete Malachi James from New Jersey officially signed with the ‘Cuse.
Syracuse football announced his commitment via its X page on Wednesday night, amid the Syracuse basketball home game against Louisville taking place (the ‘Cuse would win by two points in a thrilling affair).
Syracuse football just announced that it has received a commitment from 2024 athlete Malachi James (@MrMalachiJames) out of Burlington City High School in Burlington, N.J. Welcome, Malachi! https://t.co/ESZesaejmb
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) February 8, 2024
Based on what I’ve read about the 5-foot-11, 195-pound James since his SU commitment was revealed, it does seem that Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown and his staff have picked up a hidden gem in the high school senior cycle.
James not only excels on the football field for Burlington City High School in Burlington, N.J., but he’s also a track-and-field star. In short, James has elite-level speed, and it should prove exciting to watch him suit up for the Orange this coming season.
New Syracuse football three-star commit Malachi James is a versatile prospect.
Per his bio on Rivals.com, besides the ‘Cuse, James held scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, Monmouth and Temple, along with interest from Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
A piece by SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister stated that James’ full offer sheet also included schools such as UAB, Wagner, Delaware State and Lehigh.
On his X page, James says that he’s a cornerback and a wide receiver. As a senior for Burlington City in the 2023 season, per his X account, James stuffed the stat sheet, so to speak.
He hauled in 25 receptions for 609 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. James carried the ball 35 times for 479 yards and five scores on the ground.
On defense, James says that he tallied 38 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
He is rated a three-star player by 247Sports, which places James as the No. 148 wide receiver and the No. 17 prospect from New Jersey within the 2024 class.
As I’ve noted on many occasions of late, Brown and several of his assistants hail from New Jersey, and they’ve recruited that state hard, along with the rest of the Northeast corridor, since taking over the Orange program in early December of last year.
James told McAllister in a separate article that he took an official visit to the ‘Cuse during the weekend of January 12. McAllister reports that Syracuse football coaches offered a scholarship to James at the end of December, and he committed to the Orange following his official visit to the Hill.
However, his pledge to the ‘Cuse wasn’t made public until February 7, when the traditional National Signing Day kicked off.
Also on Wednesday, another New Jersey product officially signed with the Orange, and that was 2024 three-star defensive back/wide receiver Ibn McDaniels, an All-State performer out of Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, N.J.
Following those two commitments, I believe that the ‘Cuse has officially signed 21 high school seniors at this juncture for the team’s 2024 class.
When I wrote this story on Thursday evening, the Syracuse football 2024 cycle at the high school level was in the top 40 around the country, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, and Rivals.com.
A huge congratulations and welcome from Orange Nation to both Ibn and Malachi!