Syracuse Football: 4-star prospects rave about Fran Brown, who they trust and keeps it real with them

Since SU Athletics formally introduced former Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as the head coach of Syracuse football, both he and his assistants have proven quite active on the recruiting trail, landing commitments from the transfer portal and via high school pledges.

Brown, deemed by national analysts as one of the top recruiters nationwide, is also hailed by observers as a coach who excels in player development, is upfront and candid with prospects, and deeply cares about his guys starring on and off the field.

Those sentiments, and many more positive things, have been echoed in recent days by college transfers and high school players showering Brown with praise in various interviews with recruiting analysts and reporters.

Naturally, this is wonderful to hear, and there is no doubt that Brown and his staff have re-energized the Syracuse football fan base. Of course, what matters the most is how the team performs on the field in the 2024 season and beyond, but at the same time, what’s been said about Brown, at the onset of his gig leading the Orange, is encouraging, refreshing and totally awesome.

College transfers and high school prospects discuss Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown.

Last Sunday night, one of the 2024 players who verbally committed to the Orange was three-star defensive end/tight end Jahide Lesaine Jr. out of Irvington High School in Irvington, N.J., who flipped to the ‘Cuse from Kent State.

In an interview with Josh Crawford of SyracuseOnSI, Lesaine said in part regarding Brown, “He tells you what you need to know instead of what you want to hear. When somebody tells you want to hear, it’s like, ‘OK, I’ve heard this before.’ So, when somebody tells you what you need to know, and what you need to be your best self, that’s when it comes through as being real and thorough.”

Emanuel Ross, a 2024 four-star wide receiver from Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, N.J., also recently flipped from Stanford to the Orange.

Ross, in talking to Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Adam Friedman, said of Brown, “I had a good relationship with Fran leading into this and, now that he's in the position that he's in as a head coach, it's important for me to have a really good relationship with the guy that has the last say. He really has a good plan for me and my future. I'm really excited to see what we can do over there. He’s really changing the culture.”

Jackson Meeks, a junior wide receiver at Georgia, said on social media this past Tuesday that he would transfer to Syracuse football.

In a chat with SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister, Meeks said in part about Brown, “I trust coach Fran, I love coach Fran’s plan. Honestly he’s just one of the realest people I’ve met. I trust the process and I’m going to trust the process here.”

Jaden Hart of Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Ind., a 2024 three-star running back, verbally committed to the ‘Cuse in June.

In an interview with recruiting analyst Charles Kang of The Juice Online, Hart said, “Coach Brown is a coach you just can’t dislike. You can tell he cares about me and the guys in my class.”

I absolutely adore and love what these and other college and high school players are saying about new Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown. It’s just beautiful.