Just like last weekend and another one coming up, the Syracuse football staff will welcome various 2026 verbal pledges and recruits from this cycle on official visits to the Orange this weekend.
Head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff are looking to add to their already strong 2026 class. So far, they have landed at least 15 verbal commitments among rising high school seniors, and the industry-generated 247Sports Composite places the Orange's 2026 cycle at No. 19 around the country.
According to media reports and posts on X, including this article from top 247Sports analyst Mike McAllister, several four-star recruiting targets and a couple of three-star verbal pledges are expected to be on the Hill from June 6 to June 8 on official visits.
This list below isn't meant to be fully exhaustive, because some high school prospects may officially visit the 'Cuse over the next few days, and things are being kept quiet in that regard. Still, here are a couple of highlights, from my perspective.
Syracuse football 2026 commits and targets who are officially visiting this weekend.
Two headliners are four-star wide receiver Messiah Hampton and four-star defensive back CJ Hester. Hampton, an All-State first-team performer at James Monroe High School in Rochester, N.Y., has a top seven that includes the Orange and will make his commitment announcement on June 13.
Oregon has analyst buzz in his recruitment, although one top national analyst thinks that the 'Cuse has a great shot at prevailing for Hampton. Syracuse football, meanwhile, is in the top six of Hester.
The standout at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla., plans to make his college decision known on July 1. At this juncture, Florida is in the No. 1 spot for Hester, although recruiting analysts say that the Orange could be in the No. 2 position for him.
Two Florida State verbal commits, four-star linebacker/athlete Karon Maycock and three-star offensive tackle Xavier Payne, are officially visiting Syracuse football this weekend. Maycock attends Miami Central Senior High School, while Payne goes to Jones High School in Orlando, Fla.
Another Florida-based prep recruit officially visiting the Orange this weekend is three-star tight end Julius Miles out of Freeport High School in Freeport, Fla. Per 247Sports, last month, Miles went on official visits to Colorado and Vanderbilt, and he also has scheduled trips to both Louisville and Florida State.
A trio of three-star players who are verbally committed to Syracuse football is also traveling to Syracuse football this weekend. They are quarterback Zaid Lott of the Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C., running back D’Antae Sheffey of Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, Pa., and offensive lineman Steven Pickard of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.