Syracuse football coaches will have a bunch of highly ranked verbal commits and recruiting targets on the SU campus for the Orange's Friday night showdown with North Carolina at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Earlier on Thursday, I noted that an expected visitor on the Hill on Friday evening is 2027 four-star athlete and top-200 national prospect Carter Bonner of Penn Hills High School in Penn Hills, Pa., near near Pittsburgh.
A source has also confirmed to me numerous other high school prospects who plan to be at the Dome for the UNC game. This list isn't meant to be exhaustive, but here are some names to pass along. These first three are Syracuse football 2026 verbal pledges:
Amare Gough
Four-star wide receiver
No. 219 overall via 247Sports
Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Va.
Committed to the Orange in May of this year
Zaid Lott
Three-star quarterback
No. 40 pocket-passing QB via ESPN
Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C.
Committed to the 'Cuse in March of this year
Carter Bashir
Three-star tight end
No. 33 tight end-y via ESPN
Neumann Goretti High School in Philadelphia
Committed to the Orange in June of this year
More visitors to Syracuse football on Friday night.
Frederick Ards
2027 four-star edge/outside linebacker
No. 93 nationally from the industry-generated 247Sports Composite
Jones High School in Orlando, Fla.
Offered by Syracuse football in August of last year
Mekai Brown
2027 four-star edge
No. 70 overall, according to the 247Sports Composite
Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich, Conn.
Offered by the Orange in February of this year
Elijah Kimble
2027 four-star running back
No. 136 nationwide, according to Rivals
Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y.
Offered by the 'Cuse in February of last year
Desmond Malpress
2027 four-star edge/outside linebacker
No. 55 overall, via Rivals
Atlantic Coast High School in Jacksonville, Fla.
Offered by Syracuse football in February of this year
To date, the Orange has 29 verbal pledges in a 2026 class that is No. 26 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. This 'Cuse cycle includes a five-star commit and several four-star prospects.
In 2027, the Orange has eight verbal pledges. The 247Sports Composite has the team's 2027 class at No. 3 overall. It includes one four-star prospect in Tristin Hughes, an athlete out of Rocky River High School in Rocky River, Ohio.