Syracuse football fans won't like this analyst's predictions for key 4-star recruits

Syracuse football coaches already have a top-15 national class in the 2026 cycle, and the Orange staff remains in pursuit of various other top-flight high school juniors.

In fact, recently, head coach Fran Brown and his assistants have secured at least three new verbal pledges in this class, including a three-star quarterback who flipped from North Carolina, boosting the total number of verbal commitments in the 'Cuse 2026 cycle to at least 12.

Not too long ago, in several articles by Rivals.com national recruiting director Adam Gorney, he made some predictions for highly ranked players in the 2026 class, including several four-star prospects for which Syracuse football is heavily in the mix.

I'm sorry to report that Gorney's projections for a trio of 2026 targets don't favor the Orange, although we'll have to wait and see how their respective recruiting processes play out.

An analyst's predictions for Syracuse football 2026 four-star recruits.

Calvin Russell
Four-star wide receiver at Miami Northwestern Senior High School
Russell has the Orange in his top 12, and recruiting experts have said for a bit of time now that the 'Cuse is a significant contender for him. Gorney, though, is forecasting that Russell will stay home and ultimately head to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Miami.

James Johnson
Four-star defensive lineman at Miami Northwestern Senior High School
Word came out a few weeks ago that Johnson would transfer from North Fort Myers High School in North Fort Myers, Fla., to Miami Northwestern. He has Syracuse football in his top 10 and, per reports, will visit the Hill twice. Gorney, however, is projecting Johnson to choose Georgia, writing: "Early on, Texas was the team to beat but Georgia, Florida, Syracuse and Miami are the leaders. The Miami Northwestern four-star defensive tackle could easily stay home but the Bulldogs have done so well recruiting along the d-line."

Brandon Bennett
Four-star wide receiver at the American Heritage School in Plantation, Fla.
Bennett was offered a scholarship by the 'Cuse staff in March of last year. Gorney says that while other college suitors to watch in Bennett's recruitment include Syracuse football, Florida, Georgia, and Texas A&M, "Miami is considered the front-runner - by far."

Gorney is one of the top national recruiting analysts out there, although candidly, I hope he's wrong with his predictions here. Syracuse football fans, I assume, would agree with me.