Syracuse Football: 4-star commit, target aim to star at prestigious All-America games

In the coming days, a Syracuse football 2024 four-star commit and a four-star priority recruit for the Orange coaching staff in the senior class will suit up at prestigious All-America games in the Sunshine State and the Lone Star State, with each game airing on national television.

One of the games is the 2024 All-American Bowl, which will take place on January 6 in San Antonio, with coverage on NBC. This event will honor 100 All-Americans in the senior cycle.

The second contest is the 2024 Under Armour All-America Game, which will occur on January 3 in Orlando, Fla. ESPN will televise this event, which includes 85 players.

Playing in these two All-America games are 2024 four-star edge KingJoseph Edwards, who has officially signed with the ‘Cuse, and 2024 four-star cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr., who has the Orange among his small group of finalists.

Syracuse football has recruiting connections to two All-America high school games.

At the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Barnes resides on the East Team. Turning to the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Edwards is on Team Ice.

By the way, a big congratulations from Orange Nation to both Marcellus and KingJoseph!

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Barnes was offered a scholarship by the ‘Cuse on December 4, the same day that SU Athletics officially introduced former Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as the new head coach of Syracuse football.

Barnes, a senior at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., took an official visit to the Hill last month, and that trip went quite well. He is planning to announce his college decision on January 6, the same day as the All-American Bowl.

As I’ve noted a couple of times lately, the Orange is receiving some analyst buzz on recruiting Web sites for Barnes, who was rated as a top-350 national prospect, a top-30 cornerback and a top-10 player in Tennessee when I wrote this article, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking.

On3 placed Barnes at No. 193 across the country, No. 23 at cornerback and No. 4 in Tennessee within the senior class.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Edwards, a senior defensive end/tight end at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Ga., chose the ‘Cuse over other finalists Colorado and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Florida State.

He officially signed with Syracuse football at the start of the early signing period. The Orange had offered Edwards a scholarship on December 4, and he also went on an official visit to Syracuse football last month.

Both the 247Sports Composite and the On3 Industry Ranking had Edwards in the top 450 nationally and in the top 40 at edge when I wrote this piece. ESPN, on a national scale, had him at No. 276 overall.

A few days ago, Rivals.com national analyst John Garcia Jr. discussed various storylines for the upcoming Under Armour All-America Game. Garcia wrote in part about Edwards, “He broke out as an edge projection but could be a versatile defensive lineman in college. How much will he work inside?”