In recent days, ESPN published its first set of national rankings for the 2026 class, and let's dissect some Syracuse football recruiting ties to these ratings.
ESPN's 2026 national rankings include 300 high school juniors. I'm seeing one Orange four-star verbal commit who is included, along with a bevy of Syracuse football four-star recruiting targets.
I’m HOME!!🍊 @FranBrownCuse @CoachNickWill @Coach_E_Rob @coachtfogg @McAllisterMike1 @TheJuiceOnline @CuseRivalsCK @JohnGarcia_Jr @adamgorney @GabyUrrutia247 @LifeCoachPierre @SWiltfong_ @ChadSimmons_ @Andrew_Ivins @fbscout_florida @CuseFootball @Coach_2CAP pic.twitter.com/XzpLWNTS57
— Kamron wilson 4⭐️ Edge rusher (@behumble_kam9) March 30, 2025
Late last month, four-star edge/outside linebacker Kamron Wilson of Miami Southridge Senior High School became one of the latest 2026 players to verbally pledge to the 'Cuse. In ESPN's 2026 rankings, he is No. 274 overall and No. 34 at defensive end.
Blessed to be ranked 34th edge in the 🌎 on espn! Still keeping my head down working & remain humble🙏🏾 @espn @LifeCoachPierre @JohnGarcia_Jr @adamgorney @JerryRecruiting @GabyUrrutia247 @Andrew_Ivins pic.twitter.com/goE9gOvKBq
— Kamron wilson 4⭐️ Edge rusher (@behumble_kam9) April 8, 2025
Recently, Rivals.com national recruiting director Adam Gorney said that given Wilson's "length, athleticism, speed and playmaking ability, he has the measurables to be a real problem off the edge."
When I wrote this column, the Orange had at least 14 verbal commitments among high school juniors, and the 'Cuse 2026 class is inside the top 15 around the country, according to Rivals.com and the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
Where Syracuse football 4-star recruits reside in new 2026 rankings from ESPN.
Calvin Russell, wide receiver
Miami Northwestern Senior High School
No. 26 overall
Davion Brown, wide receiver/athlete
Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, Va.
No. 71 overall
Andre Clarke Jr., defensive back/athlete
Hermitage High School in Henrico, Va.
No. 101 overall
Luke Wafle, defensive lineman
The Hun School in Princeton, N.J.
No. 104 overall
James Johnson, defensive lineman
Miami Northwestern Senior High School
No. 123 overall
Ayden Pouncey, defensive back
Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Fla.
No. 162 overall
Messiah Hampton, wide receiver
James Monroe High School in Rochester, N.Y.
No. 194 overall
CJ Hester, defensive back
Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla.
No. 241 overall
Tedarius Hughes, defensive back
Miami Northwestern Senior High School
No. 262 overall
All of these targets, as far as I can tell, hold a scholarship offer from the Orange staff, which is led by head coach and ace recruiter Fran Brown. As I've noted in other columns lately, some of these highly ranked recruits have recently visited the Hill or plan to in the coming months.
Additionally, the 'Cuse has made list cuts for several of these top-flight recruiting targets, including those of Russell, Davion Brown, Clarke, Johnson and Pouncey, among others.
National analysts already have praised the Orange coaching staff for what it has done to date in the high school junior cycle. Undeniably, with pledges by a few targets noted above, the Syracuse football 2026 class can prove absolutely, positively stellar.