Syracuse boosts WR depth with Penn State transfer Matt Outten, former 4-star recruit

Syracuse football coaches continue to build up their wide receiver room for the upcoming 2026 season.

Earlier on Monday, the Orange secured a commitment from Penn State transfer wide receiver Matt Outten, who was recruited by the 'Cuse staff while a prep prospect in Virginia. His pledge to Syracuse football was first reported by 247Sports and CBS Sports, with a source confirming this news to me as well.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Outten didn't appear in any games for Big Ten Conference member Penn State in his true freshman campaign. The Nittany Lions have a new head coach in former Iowa State boss Matt Campbell.

In taking a redshirt for the 2025 term, Outten is expected to have four years of college eligibility left.

Syracuse football has landed at least three transfer wide receivers via the portal.

In transfer ratings from the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, Outten is three stars, No. 425 overall and 64 at wide receiver. As a member of the 2025 high school class, he was a four-star prospect according to virtually all the main recruiting services.

Outten's highest 2025 rankings came courtesy of 247Sports, which had him at No. 196 overall, No. 19 at athlete and No. 4 in Virginia. He attended I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Va.

While a high school prospect, Outten held a scholarship offer from the Orange staff. He took an official visit to the Hill and, at one point, had Syracuse football in his top four.

The 'Cuse wide receiver room for 2026 is going to look a whole lot different than in 2025, when the team went 3-9 overall. Among those departing the program via the transfer portal are freshman Gabe Daniels, redshirt freshman Ja’Meer Thomas, junior Johntay Cook II, junior Darrell Gill Jr., redshirt sophomore Nick Armentano, redshirt freshman Emanuel Ross and redshirt freshman Jaylan Hornsby.

Umari Hatcher, a redshirt senior, had been in the portal but has withdrawn his name. The transfer portal opened on January 2 and runs through January 16.

Wide receivers from the Orange's 2025 roster who are expected to return include freshmen Darien Williams and Darius Johnson, along with redshirt sophomore Tyshawn Russell. The 'Cuse 2026 class at the high school level includes five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell III and four-star wide receiver Amare Gough, among others.

Here are the 14 transfer pledges for Syracuse football to date in the portal window, including three wide receiver commits. This class is currently No. 54 overall on the 247Sports Web site:
•Wide receiver Matt Outten, a freshman at Penn State
•Edge Tunmise Adeleye, a redshirt senior at UNLV
•Cornerback Nazir Ward, a redshirt sophomore at Western Kentucky
•Safety Amare Snowden, a redshirt sophomore at Toledo
•Quarterback Amari Odom, a redshirt sophomore at Kennesaw State
•Defensive lineman Dillan Fontus, a junior at Maryland
•Edge Keyshawn Johnson, a junior at UT Martin
•Wide receiver Elijah Moore, a redshirt freshman at Florida State
•Linebacker Chris D’Appolonia, a redshirt sophomore at Toledo
•Wide receiver Cole Weaver, a redshirt sophomore at Miami (Ohio)
•Running back Ahmad Miller, a redshirt sophomore at Jackson State
•Defensive tackle Jartavius Flounoy, a freshman at Georgia State
•Running back Ju’Juan Johnson, a sophomore at LSU
•Tight end Michael Smith, a sophomore at South Carolina