Syracuse Football: DART – ‘Cuse lands commitment from New York’s No. 1 prospect

Well, it’s proven a fun two days for Syracuse football as it pertains to the team’s 2025 class.

On Saturday, 2025 three-star wide receiver Darien Williams, a local product from Central New York, said via his X page that he was verbally committing to the Orange.

A huge congrats from ‘Cuse Nation to the 6-foot, 165-pound Williams, a standout at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse.

The day before Williams’ pledge, the Orange received a verbal commitment from 2025 defensive back Javon Lawrence, a speedy prospect out of North Rockland High School in Thiells, N.Y.

Williams and Lawrence join four-star edge and top-300 national prospect Sharlandiin Strange of Cheltenham High School in Wyncote, Pa., who in late January verbally committed to the ‘Cuse over Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Southern California.

Syracuse football has solid momentum in its 2025 cycle.

On March 5, Williams said that he had received a scholarship offer from the Orange coaching staff, led by head coach and ace recruiter Fran Brown.

Williams verbally committed to his local college team fewer than two weeks later. In the 2023 season, he helped guide the Christian Brothers Academy to a 14-0 record and the New York state Class AA championship.

As a junior, per a post on his X page, Williams hauled in 46 passes for 871 yards and a dozen touchdowns.

In the state title game that took place at the JMA Wireless Dome in early December of last year, he was named his squad’s MVP after boasting seven receptions for 236 yards and a trio of scores. In that contest, the Christian Brothers Academy defeated Carmel High School from Carmel, N.Y., by a final count of 31-14.

According to recruiting services, besides the ‘Cuse, Williams’ offer sheet has included Boston College, Colorado, Connecticut, UMass, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Temple.

Within the junior class, both 247Sports and the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking place Williams as the No. 1 prospect coming out of New York state.

He’s a top-80 wide receiver in this cycle, per multiple recruiting Web sites. Both the On3 Industry Ranking and the industry-generated 247Sports Composite had Williams in the top 500 nationally when I wrote this piece on Saturday night.

The Orange’s three-member 2025 class, buoyed by Williams’ pledge on Saturday, moved the Syracuse football junior cycle inside the top 50 around the country, according to the 247Sports Composite and Rivals.com.