Syracuse football lands pledge from LB transfer James Heard Jr., former top-250 national prospect

On Sunday night, Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown and his staff scored another commitment via the transfer portal.

James Heard Jr., a freshman linebacker at Big 12 Conference school West Virginia, said on social media that he was committing to the Orange.

This weekend, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Heard was one of roughly 20 prospects on the Hill taking official visits to Syracuse football. Stemming from those visits, Brown has secured numerous pledges, both from college transfers and high school recruits.

Heard had entered the transfer portal on December 9. Per media reports, he took a redshirt for the 2023 season and should have four years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Syracuse football has received a commitment from West Virginia LB transfer James Heard Jr.

Before joining the Mountaineers, Heard most recently competed at Camden High School in Camden, N.J.

Brown and new Orange defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson, who are long-time friends, both grew up in Camden.

Brown, Robinson and other members of the Syracuse football coaching staff have deep recruiting connections in New Jersey and throughout the Northeast region.

When word broke that Heard would officially visit the Orange this weekend, I figured that the ‘Cuse would prove a strong contender to land a commitment from him, and Syracuse football coaches did just that.

In the 2023 recruiting cycle, Rivals.com was most bullish on Heard, placing him as four stars, No. 240 nationally, No. 15 at his position and No. 3 in New Jersey.

In national transfer rankings during the current cycle, on Sunday evening, Heard checked in as three stars and No. 134 overall, according to Rivals.com.

Heard is at least the fourth college transfer in the current cycle to commit to the Orange. Earlier on Sunday, Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord pledged to the ‘Cuse.

McCord, a junior with the Buckeyes, is rated as four stars, in the top 40 nationally and No. 10 at quarterback, per national transfer rankings.

Yazeed Haynes, a freshman wide receiver at Georgia, committed to Syracuse football on Saturday night. In national transfer rankings, Rivals.com has him as four stars and No. 66 nationwide.

On December 12, Jackson Meeks, a junior wide receiver at Georgia, said he would transfer to the Orange. In 247Sports’ national transfer ratings, Meeks arrives at No. 202 overall and No. 39 at wide receiver.