Consensus four-star wide receiver Calvin Russell, who also shines on the basketball court for his high school in Florida, recently took a visit to Syracuse football and says he wants to visit the Hill again in the future.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Russell, an exceptional athlete at Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, was one of numerous highly rated 'Cuse targets in Central New York of late on unofficial visits.
Russell, ranked in the top 50 nationally by most recruiting services within the 2026 class, said via his X page on January 20 of this year that he was re-offered a scholarship by the new Orange staff, which is led by head coach and ace recruiter Fran Brown.
Blessed To Be Re-Offered From Syracuse University🧡💙 @franbrowncuse @rossdoug21 @coachnixon_nyg @coach_2cap
— Calvin Russell Dual Sport Ath (@14gump_) January 20, 2024
Although he's only a sophomore in high school, and his recruitment likely has a way to go, Russell has already amassed nearly 30 scholarship offers from a range of high-major programs, according to recruiting Web sites.
He appears to have a high interest in Syracuse football, yet 'Cuse coaches are going to face steep competition as they try to prevail for Russell.
Syracuse football is in the hunt for 2026 four-star wide receiver Calvin Russell.
Had A Great Time At Syracuse! Definitely Cant Wait To Get Back, I Can Definitely See The Future In The Program! #OrangeStandard🍊 @RossDoug21 @FranBrownCuse pic.twitter.com/C5pMfpR7c6
— Calvin Russell Dual Sport Ath (@14gump_) March 25, 2024
After his recent visit to the Orange, Russell said in a post on X that he had a "great time" on that trip to the SU campus, that he "definitely can't wait to get back" for another visit, and also that he "can definitely see the future in the program!" Love seeing this from Calvin.
https://t.co/tdAK6ChNoD Check Out My Regular Season Film Ft 18 TD’s @mnw_fb @TheCribSouthFLA @305Sportss @larryblustein @adamgorney @RivalsFriedman 5⭐️ Loading.. pic.twitter.com/uB4m0eyFTc
— Calvin Russell Dual Sport Ath (@14gump_) November 5, 2023
Besides Syracuse football, per recruiting services, Russell's full offer sheet includes college squads such as Florida State, SMU, Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas A&M, UCF, USF, West Virginia, LSU, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Mississippi State, Georgia and Notre Dame, among many others.
Several recruiting Web sites have Russell within the top five at his position in the 2026 class, which to me suggests that he could make a run at the No. 1 national rating at wide receiver in his cycle.
At the time of this writing, the industry-generated 247Sports Composite placed Russell at No. 25 nationally, No. 5 at wide receiver and No. 2 in Florida within his class.
Brown and his staff continue to recruit the Northeast corridor hard, including New Jersey, New York, the Washington, D.C., area and the Philadelphia region. At the same time, Orange coaches have positive momentum with highly rated recruits in other states such as Ohio, Texas and Florida.
Regarding the Sunshine State, for example, 2025 four-star running back Antwan Raymond took an unofficial visit to the 'Cuse this past weekend, and he's got an official visit lined up to Syracuse football for June 14 to June 16.
Raymond, who is from Montreal, was a standout junior during the 2023 season at the Clearwater Academy International in Clearwater, Fla.
Additionally, 2025 four-star linebacker Ty Jackson, who has the Orange in his top 10, plans to visit the 'Cuse program on April 20. Jackson, rated the nation's No. 1 linebacker in his class by some recruiting services, stars for Seminole Ridge Community High School in Loxahatchee, Fla.