Playing on a big-time stage, Syracuse football 2027 priority target Nick Lennear didn't disappoint at the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
The five-star wide receiver/athlete in the high school junior class helped propel the East to a 17-14 victory over the West in the annual showcase event, which aired on NBC and Peacock from the Alamodome in San Antonio.
According to 247Sports, the 6-foot, 165-pound Lennear caught six passes for 48 yards, and that included an impressive diving touchdown catch of 21 yards. You can view the grab here. The touchdown pass, by the way, was thrown by former Orange target Briggs Cherry, a 2026 four-star quarterback who is signed with fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Louisville.
Syracuse football 2027 priority recruit Nick Lennear was electric on a national stage.
Lennear recently dropped a top five that features the Orange, Miami, Florida State, LSU and Texas A&M. The Hurricanes, a hometown team for him, have analyst buzz for Lennear on Rivals. He has visited the 'Canes several times, and Miami reaching the College Football Playoff national championship game (against Indiana) can only help its chances to prevail for the talented wideout.
The 'Cuse has recruited Lennear hard for a while now. The Orange staff is working to try and get him to the Hill for a visit at some point, a source told me not too long ago. Across numerous recruiting cycles, Syracuse football has fared quite well in recruiting high school prospects in the Sunshine State, led by head coach Fran Brown and general manager Tommy Caporale.
Within the 2027 cycle, Lennear is a top-20 national prospect and a top-five wide receiver, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. He also shines on defense in the secondary. In recent days, MaxPreps named Lennear to its junior All-America second team as an all-purpose player.
This past season, Lennear played alongside 'Cuse 2026 signees Calvin Russell III, a five-star wide receiver, and Tedarius Hughes, a four-star defensive back, at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Miami Northwestern went 13-1 and was the runner-up in Florida's Class 3A state playoffs.
For his senior year, Lennear has transferred to another program, Miami Carol City Senior High School.