Syracuse Football: 5-star Calvin Russell is nation's No. 2 wide receiver, per top expert

A top high school football expert has named his top wide receivers across the country for the upcoming season, regardless of class designation.

Syracuse football 2026 verbal commit Calvin Russell lll, a state champion from Florida, is highly placed in this top 10 from MaxPreps national football editor Zack Poff.

In fact, the five-star Russell has arrived at No. 2 nationally, leading me to believe that the Orange pledge could make a run at the top spot as a senior at Miami Northwestern Senior High School.

The only wide receiver ahead of the 6-foot-5, 190-pound Russell in Poff's top 10 is 2026 five-star prospect Tristen Keys of Hattiesburg High School in Hattiesburg, Miss., who is verbally committed to Southeastern Conference school LSU.

In his article, Poff wrote that Russell "has the perfect combination of size and speed to dominate at the next level." Russell is also expected to suit up for Syracuse basketball, I was told last month when he announced his verbal pledge to Orange football.

Syracuse football has a top-25 national class in the 2026 cycle.

As a junior, Russell was a standout at Miami Northwestern, which in 2024 won the Florida High School Athletic Association ("FHSAA") 3A state title. The Bulls are trending as a preseason top-25 squad ahead of the 2025 term, when Russell should contend for All-America honors.

In early July, Russell chose the 'Cuse over other finalists Michigan, Oregon and Florida State. He has said his recruitment is shut down, and I expect Russell to take an official visit to the Hill sometime this fall.

Since his pledge to Syracuse football, though, national analysts have noted that other suitors, including Michigan and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Miami, a hometown team for Russell, continue to push for him. I've been told that Russell is planning to sign with the Orange during the early signing period and could enroll at Syracuse in January of next year.

While Russell has reportedly signed a lucrative name, image and likeness deal with the 'Cuse, per On3's Pete Nakos, Russell has said in interviews that his decision to play for Syracuse football boiled down to his relationship with head coach Fran Brown.

Within the 2026 class, Russell is rated five stars by 247Sports and the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking. He is also deemed a top-five wide receiver in his cycle by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the Rivals Industry Ranking.