Syracuse Football: 4-star edge CJ May, former Notre Dame commit, will visit ‘Cuse

Syracuse football coaches, led by ace recruiter and head coach Fran Brown, continue to score upcoming visits from four-star, highly ranked targets.

Four-star CJ May, one of the top edge rushers in the 2025 class, plans to visit the ‘Cuse from April 17 to April 19, according to an article and a post on X from 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong.

Naturally, that’s encouraging news to hear for the Orange’s chances to prevail in the recruitment of the 6-foot-4, 225-pound May, who plays high school football in Alabama and at one time was verbally committed to Notre Dame.

On January 21 of this year, the top-300 national prospect in the junior cycle said that he had picked up a scholarship offer from the new ‘Cuse coaching staff.

Throughout his recruiting process, May has landed more than 20 offers from a range of high-major programs. He verbally committed to the Fighting Irish last September but then de-committed and reopened his recruitment in early February of 2024.

Syracuse football will get a visit from 2025 edge CJ May.

In Wiltfong’s piece, other suitors that are on the books to get visits from May include Louisville, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Auburn. He also may end up visiting Memphis and Texas A&M as well.

May is a standout at the Highland Home High School in Highland Home, Ala. As a junior during the 2023 season, according to MaxPreps, he produced 27 solo tackles, 54 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception, six passes defended and two fumble recoveries.

According to Wiltfong’s story, in recent months, May has forged a strong relationship with new Syracuse football defensive ends coach Nick Williams, a top-notch recruiter who came to the ‘Cuse from Colorado, where he was the defensive line coach.

May says that Williams and Brown “are both very genuine guys. Coach V (James Vollono) actually met me when he was at Troy. He put Coach Nick on me and it’s been real ever since. They also want me to be a big piece of the defense and future of the program!”

When I wrote this column, the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, within the 2025 class, placed May at No. 301 nationally, No. 22 at edge and No. 16 in Alabama.

The industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, meanwhile, rated him No. 253 overall, No. 26 at edge and No. 15 in Alabama.

Currently, 247Sports is the most bullish on May, ranking him at No. 138 nationwide, No. 16 at edge and No. 12 in Alabama.

On January 27 of this year, the 'Cuse staff got on the board in the junior cycle when 2025 four-star edge and top-300 national prospect Sharlandiin Strange of Cheltenham High School in Wyncote, Pa., verbally committed to Syracuse football over other finalists Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Southern California.