Syracuse Football: As 4-star defensive lineman set to decide, one finalist has buzz

On Thursday, March 28, 2025 four-star defensive lineman Ethan Utley from Tennessee is expected to announce a verbal commitment to one of five finalists, and Syracuse football is in that group.

However, with Utley's decision looming, one of his suitors appears to have some buzz, and the 'Cuse may be on the outside looking in. Of course, we'll have to see what school the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Utley reveals on Thursday, and his decision at that time is also a verbal commitment.

In any event, his five finalists are Syracuse football, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. This week, an article on the On3 Web site had a headline that read, "One school has the most buzz with 4-star DL Ethan Utley ahead of his commitment."

Now, this story is a subscriber-exclusive piece, so I won't be sharing details here out of respect for On3. That being said, under Utley's bio on the On3 Web site, that media outlet's recruiting prediction machine lists Southeastern Conference member Tennessee with a sizable lead at this juncture.

It would not surprise me at all if the Volunteers are announced as Utley's choice on Thursday, although his other suitors, including the 'Cuse, absolutely could still continue to pursue him.

Syracuse football is in the top five of 2025 four-star defensive lineman Ethan Utley.

Utley is a standout junior at The Ensworth School in Nashville, Tenn. That means the Volunteers are an in-state college squad for him, so it would be completely understandable if Utley elected to stay home and play for this SEC team.

Another thing to mention is that, per recruiting services, Utley has visited all of his finalists, except for the 'Cuse. Under his bio on the 247Sports Web site, Utley is reportedly scheduled to take official visits to both Tennessee and Texas in June.

What this says to me is that even after he announces his verbal commitment on Thursday, some or all of his finalists will continue to recruit him, as a verbal pledge is non-binding until a prospect signs his or her national letter of intent.

Naturally, let's assume that the Orange doesn't get picked on Thursday. It wouldn't surprise me if head coach Fran Brown and his staff continue to pursue Utley, but they would definitely have to get him on the Hill for a visit to have any shot in his recruitment.

Utley, who holds more than 40 offers, secured a scholarship offer from the new 'Cuse coaching staff on December 4 of last year, which was the same day that Brown was formally introduced by SU Athletics as the new Syracuse football head coach.

All the primary recruiting services rank Utley as a top-200 national prospect in the 2025 cycle, and most recruiting Web sites also place him as a top-20 defensive lineman in his class.

At the time of this writing, the Orange's 2025 class featured verbal commitments from at least eight high school juniors, including four-star quarterback Luke Carney from the Dallas area and four-star edge Sharlandiin Strange from the Philadelphia market.

When I penned this column, multiple recruiting services rated the Syracuse football 2025 cycle in the top 40 around the country, as Brown and his assistants have gotten off to a stellar start with this class.