Syracuse football heavily in mix for 4-star DBs from Fla., one ranked No. 26 overall

Given that Syracuse football first-year head coach Fran Brown was formerly the defensive backs coach at Southeastern Conference powerhouse Georgia, it's no surprise that Brown and his top-flight staff are pursuing elite players in the secondary at the high school level and via the transfer portal.

Additionally, as I've noted in numerous columns lately, the Orange coaching staff is recruiting the talent-laden Sunshine State extremely hard in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 cycles. This brings me to the focus of this particular article.

Recently, Rivals.com national recruiting director Adam Gorney provided an update on various four-star players in 2026 and 2027, including two 'Cuse targets. They are 2026 four-star safety Ayden Pouncey and 2027 four-star cornerback Kenton Dopson III, both of whom hold Orange offers and have visited the Hill.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Pouncey is a standout junior at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Fla. He received a scholarship offer from Syracuse football coaches on May 6 of last year.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Dopson is a sophomore at Miami Norland Senior High School in Miami Gardens, Fla. He picked up his 'Cuse scholarship offer on April 6 of 2024.

Syracuse football is a big contender for a pair of 4-star defensive backs from Florida, an analyst says.

Per 247Sports, Pouncey holds more than 30 offers. Yet Gorney writes about him, "Miami could be the team to beat for the four-star safety from Winter Park, Fla., as others are involved with Pouncey but the Hurricanes have definitely jumped to the top. One visit is scheduled for this offseason so far and it’s to Coral Gables as Miami leads the pack but Georgia, LSU, Syracuse, Florida State, Notre Dame and Illinois will be others to watch in Pouncey’s recruitment."

Both the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, within the 2026 class, place Pouncey in the top 150 nationally, the top 15 at safety and the top 25 within Florida.

Regarding Dopson, Gorney says, "Florida State is an offer that Dopson always wanted and now that the four-star cornerback from Miami (Fla.) Norland has it the Seminoles will seriously be considered in his recruitment. Miami is definitely the team to watch for the hometown standout with Louisville and Syracuse as well but the Canes could be tough to beat."

Currently, Rivals.com has Dopson at No. 26 nationwide in the 2027 class. He boasts more than 15 offers at this stage in his recruiting process.

Understandably, given that Dopson and Pouncey are from the Sunshine State, college squads such as Florida State and Miami are likely to prove significant contenders in their recruitments.

Then again, Brown and his staff have several signees from Florida in their large 2025 class, and in the Orange's 2026 cycle of four verbal commits so far, one of those pledges is from four-star offensive tackle and top-200 national prospect Javeion Cooper of Melbourne Central Catholic in Melbourne, Fla.