Syracuse football 5-star priority WR target Calvin Russell lll scores Adidas NIL deal

Syracuse football priority recruit Calvin Russell lll has inked a name, image and likeness ("NIL") deal with athletic apparel and footwear giant Adidas, according to various media reports.

The 2026 five-star wide receiver, who has also reported a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball, is one of six top-flight high school football players to notch NIL deals with Adidas as part of its "Adizero" class of 2026, per the X account Nice Kicks and other reports.

Since I had never heard of Adizero, I read a bit about it online. Here's a good primer on what Adizero is all about, if you're interested.

The other five 2026 prospects who have signed NIL deals with Adidas are:
•Five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys, who is verbally committed to LSU
•Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson
•Five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., who is verbally pledged to Ohio State
•Four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who is verbally committed to Ohio State
•Four-star wide receiver Madden Williams, who is verbally pledged to Texas A&M

A huge congrats to Calvin and these other players! Per an article from On3's Nick Schultz, "The members of adidas’ Adizero class will participate in campaigns throughout the year and represent the brand throughout their respective 2025 seasons. Keys and Henry also recently starred in an ad promoting the Adizero Electric II Exotic Speed cleats."

Syracuse football will soon know if it has landed Calvin Russell lll.

Russell, who is ranked in the top 25 nationally and in the top three at wide receiver and in Florida per 247Sports, has a final eight of the 'Cuse, Miami, Oregon, Michigan, Florida State, Florida, LSU and North Carolina.

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Russell is set to make his college decision known on July 5. According to his Instagram, Russell has taken recent visits to seven of his eight finalists, but not the Orange. However, he's visited the 'Cuse on multiple occasions, and some recent reports indicate he may take an official visit to the Hill this fall.

It's tough to gauge which way Russell is leaning at this juncture, as his commitment announcement inches closer. LSU has some buzz via the On3 Web site. A prediction in Michigan's direction was recently logged on Rivals. I haven't seen any formal projections yet on the 247Sports Web site.

Understandably, Russell's recruitment is the talk of the town, so to speak, these days on social media and in chat rooms among Syracuse football (and basketball) fans. I get it. If he were to commit to the Orange, it would prove massive.

The 2024 state champion in football at Miami Northwestern Senior High School is an elite wide receiver, and he's said many positive things about the 'Cuse throughout his recruiting process. I have no clue where he'll end up, and it will sting if the Orange misses out. But Syracuse football coaches have done everything possible to prevail for Russell, and I credit them for that.