Chima Okechukwu, a 2027 defensive lineman from the talent-rich DMV, announced his verbal commitment to Syracuse football via social media on Saturday night.
The 6-foot-9, 315-pound Okechukwu received a scholarship offer from the SU staff, led by head coach Fran Brown, on June 4 of this year. According to social media posts, in June, he also competed in a Syracuse football camp and, a few days later, took an official visit to the 'Cuse.
Blessed To Announce My Commitment To Syracuse University. D.A.R.T 🎯 Let Go Cuse 🍊🍊. DMV2CUSE @BrianDohn247 @SWiltfong_ @coachdrekates @McAllisterMike1 @coachfranbrown
— Chima Okechukwu (@Chima2027) August 8, 2026
ORANGE IT IS pic.twitter.com/96YtvVtCR8
Per recruiting services, besides Syracuse football, Okechukwu also has received scholarship offers from West Virginia, Maine and Monmouth.
Great OV @CuseFootball !! Glory to God. #FRANchise #GoOrange pic.twitter.com/4phjRw9Dd4
— Chima Okechukwu (@Chima2027) June 8, 2026
Okechukwu is a senior at the Mt. Zion Preparatory Academy in Lanham, Md., which is a well-known prep school in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, a key recruiting market for the Orange program. According to MaxPreps, Mt. Zion Prep went 3-9 overall in the 2025 campaign.
Per the school's Web site, Okechukwu was also a center for the boys' basketball prep team at Mt. Zion Prep in the 2025-26 season.
AGTG. Thank you @FranBrownCuse for the opportunity. Syracuse offered!! @CoachDreKates @CoachJHawkins @AlexKellyCuse @CoachJScott_DL pic.twitter.com/FSCZBCmd4D
— Chima Okechukwu (@Chima2027) June 5, 2026
While he isn't currently a nationally ranked football prospect, Okechukwu has great size heading into his senior year at Mt. Zion Prep. I'll try to find out if he plans to play hoops as a senior, too.
A couple of clips from camp. @CuseFootball .
— Chima Okechukwu (@Chima2027) June 5, 2026
🏆 DLine MVP
⏰ 4.84 forty (official)
6’8 313 lbs pic.twitter.com/4puWfdxQ8E
The latest on Syracuse football's 2027 class following the pledge by Chima Okechukwu.
Following Okechukwu's verbal commitment on Saturday evening, the Orange has 25 verbal pledges in its 2027 class. It is ranked No. 39 around the country via 247Sports and No. 45 nationally by Rivals, although the latter rating didn't include Okechukwu's commitment when I wrote this article on Saturday night.
Okechukwu is Syracuse football's first 2027 pledge from Maryland. He is also the fifth defensive lineman in the high school senior class to verbally commit to the 'Cuse.
The others are:
•Three-star DL Edan Richardson out of Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, Fla.
•Three-star DL Jason Lewis out of Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Fla.
•Three-star edge rusher Bradyn Paulozzi of St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio
•Three-star edge rusher Braylon Otis of Jones High School in Orlando, Fla.
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