Syracuse football bolstered its secondary on Sunday with a commitment from Amare Snowden, who previously attended Wisconsin and then Toledo. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Snowden served as a cornerback at both schools, although he was injured during the 2025 season and didn't play, but he says on his Instagram page that he will suit up at safety for the Orange.
Snowden was a four-star prep recruit in the 2023 class out of Roseville High School in Roseville, Mich., which is a suburb of Detroit. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite placed him at No. 446 overall, No. 45 at cornerback and No. 9 in Michigan within the 2023 cycle.
In the 2023 season for Big Ten Conference member Wisconsin, Snowden didn't see the field. In 2024, he appeared in two games, tallying one solo tackle. He transferred to Mid-American Conference school Toledo for the 2025 campaign, but Snowden unfortunately didn't see action because of an injury. At the 'Cuse, he is expected to have two years of college eligibility left.
Syracuse football has beefed up its secondary depth.
A few days ago, another Toledo transfer, redshirt sophomore linebacker Chris D’Appolonia, also committed to Syracuse football. Toledo's former defensive coordinator, Vince Kehres, has taken on the same role with the Orange. Additionally, former Rockets cornerbacks coach Perry Eliano has joined the 'Cuse as its new defensive backs coach.
It makes sense that the Orange would want to increase its secondary depth, especially at safety. Syracuse football's starting safeties in the 2025 season, Duce Chestnut and Devin Grant, both have exhausted their collegiate eligibility.
With the transfer portal opening on January 2 and running through January 16, at least 31 'Cuse players have decided to explore the transfer market, including multiple defensive backs such as Greg Delaine, Ta'Ron Haile, Jalil Martin, Kaylib Singleton and Ibn McDaniels.
Syracuse football's 26-member class in the 2026 cycle at the high school level has several defensive backs within it, like four-star safety Tedarius Hughes, along with three-star signees Chase Geter and Ibn Muhammad.
As of Sunday, the Orange's 2026 transfer class boasts 11 pledges and is ranked No. 53 nationally via 247Sports. The other 10 transfer commits are:
•Quarterback Amari Odom, a redshirt sophomore at Kennesaw State
•Defensive lineman Dillan Fontus, a junior at Maryland
•Defensive lineman Keyshawn Johnson, a junior at UT Martin
•Wide receiver Elijah Moore, a redshirt freshman at Florida State
•Linebacker Chris D’Appolonia, a redshirt sophomore at Toledo
•Wide receiver Cole Weaver, a redshirt sophomore at Miami (Ohio)
•Running back Ahmad Miller, a redshirt sophomore at Jackson State
•Defensive tackle Jartavius Flounoy, a freshman at Georgia State
•Running back Ju’Juan Johnson, a sophomore at LSU
•Tight end Michael Smith, a sophomore at South Carolina