Syracuse football 4-star DB priority target, an All-American, plans move to 2025 class

Syracuse football priority recruit J'Vari Flowers, a fast-rising prospect who won a state championship this past season in Florida, is expected to reclassify from the 2026 class to the 2025 cycle, according to multiple media reports.

The 6-foot, 177-pound Flowers, a consensus four-star defensive back who has spoken highly of the Orange staff, is currently No. 55 overall and No. 5 at cornerback in the 2025 class, per Rivals.com. Over at the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, he is No. 92 nationally, No. 12 at cornerback and No. 14 in Florida.

Flowers owns a flood of high-major offers. According to his X page, just in January alone, he picked up offers from teams such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, N.C. State, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Purdue.

The 'Cuse staff, led by ace recruiter and head coach Fran Brown, offered a scholarship to Flowers on February 16 of last year. This past November, Flowers was on the Hill for a visit and caught the Orange's thrilling win over Virginia Tech.

Syracuse football priority target J'Vari Flowers, a 4-star CB, is reclassifying.

Candidly, I don't know how Flowers' decision to head to the 2025 class might impact his recruitment by the Orange coaching staff. One thing I will say here is that the 'Cuse 2025 cycle, with 35 commitments, is the largest at the high school level across the country, with a current overall rating of No. 40, per the 247Sports Composite.

According to reports and comments from national recruiting analysts, college squads that might be considered among the top contenders for Flowers at this juncture include Miami, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Syracuse football, Georgia Tech, Penn State, Louisville and Illinois, among others.

The traditional signing period for high school seniors commences on Wednesday, Feb. 5, although Rivals.com national analyst John Garcia Jr. wrote in a recent post on X, "Flowers is not expected to sign next week."

Reports suggest that Flowers is looking to go on some official visits to his main contenders this spring. While Flowers has visited Central New York in the past, for the 'Cuse to be a significant threat to prevail here, I assume Syracuse football coaches will have to land an official visit from Flowers.

As a junior, Flowers had a terrific 2024 season in helping lead Miami Northwestern Senior High School to the Florida High School Athletic Association ("FHSAA") 3A state title. For his efforts, not too long ago, Flowers was named to the MaxPreps junior All-America defensive second team.

Earlier this month, national analysts and scouts praised Flowers for his performance at the prestigious 2025 Under Armour Next All-America Game, which took place in DeLand, Fla., near Orlando.