Syracuse football has a strong 2026 class, and 'Cuse has buzz for more prospects

After a flurry of recent verbal pledges, Syracuse football's 2026 class resides in the top 30 overall and currently includes at least 20 commitments. Not many college programs have more 2026 pledges at this juncture than the 'Cuse.

But wait. More commits may be on the horizon.

Over the last few weeks, the Orange staff has welcomed many 2026 four-star and three-star targets to the Hill on official visits. Those visitors to Central New York are wrapping up shortly, though, before a dead period in college football recruiting that will run from June 23 until July 31.

At present, Syracuse football is receiving analyst buzz for a couple of 2026 recruits on Rivals.com, while the chatter on the 247Sports Web site and elsewhere also seems to indicate that the 'Cuse is in a good spot with various targets in the rising senior class.

Let's have a closer look.

Syracuse football could pick up more 2026 pledges sooner rather than later.

Ibn Muhammad, an athlete out of Camden High School in Camden, N.J., is expected to officially visit the Orange this weekend. When I wrote this article on Wednesday, there were at least three projections in the direction of Syracuse football for the 6-foot, 190-pound Muhammad, a defensive back/wide receiver, on Rivals.com.

Last weekend, three-star tight end/defensive tackle Carter Bashir out of Neumann Goretti High School in Philadelphia went on an official visit to the Orange program. Per his X page, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Bashir plans to make his college decision this Saturday, and recruiting services indicate he will choose between Syracuse football and Temple.

On Wednesday, there was at least one prediction in the direction of the 'Cuse for Bashir on Rivals.com.

A few other 2026 prospects to monitor in the near term. Three-star running back Jamal Rule from North Carolina, who has officially visited the Orange, will reportedly make his college decision later this month, and the 'Cuse is among his small group of finalists, according to recruiting Web sites.

Syracuse football also seems to be in the final three of three-star defensive lineman Walt Frazier from Pennsylvania, along with Kentucky and UConn. He has officially visited the Orange, which is led by ace recruiter and head coach Fran Brown.

The 'Cuse appears to be a strong contender for three-star defensive lineman Jude Okeleke from Connecticut, who took an official visit to the Hill last weekend and could make a commitment announcement early next month, reports state.