Syracuse football is making huge impression on 5-star WR, teammate of Calvin Russell

Last month, Syracuse football stunned the college football world when it secured a verbal pledge from 2026 five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell lll, a state champion in 2024 with Miami Northwestern Senior High School, who is also expected to suit up for Syracuse basketball, I've been told.

Russell's football teammate at Miami Northwestern, 2027 five-star wide receiver/athlete Nick Lennear, is also high on the Orange program. According to a post on X from Rivals analyst Marcus Benjamin, the 6-foot, 170-pound Lennear will visit several schools this fall, including the 'Cuse.

Benjamin has an interesting VIP article on Lennear. Out of respect for Marcus' work, I won't be sharing details here, however, let's just say that Syracuse football appears to be a top option for Lennear, given that the Orange is recruiting him hard, Russell is verbally committed to the 'Cuse, and Lennear is forging a strong relationship with head coach Fran Brown and wide receivers coach Myles White.

Syracuse football is in consistent communication with 2027 5-star prospect Nick Lennear.

In the 2024 season, Miami Northwestern went 12-2 and won the Florida High School Athletic Association ("FHSAA") 3A state title. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, high school football experts deem the Bulls as a potential preseason top-25 team, although head coach Teddy Bridgewater was recently suspended by Miami Northwestern, according to multiple media reports.

Per his bio on MaxPreps, in the 2024 term as a sophomore, Lennear hauled in 38 catches for 657 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also tallied 12 rushing yards and 72 kick-return yards.

It's not clear to me whether Lennear has secured a scholarship offer from the Orange yet, but if he hasn't, Lennear will sooner rather than later. According to recruiting services, his early offer sheet includes teams such as Colorado, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia, among others.

Currently, the Miami Hurricanes, a hometown team for Lennear, hold a big lead in his recruitment, per the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine, although that will likely change as he goes on campus visits.

Rivals, within the 2027 cycle, has Lennear at No. 19 nationwide. He's five stars and No. 25 overall, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. The bevy of recruiting services ranks Lennear in the top five at wide receiver and in talent-laden Florida, a state that the Syracuse football staff is recruiting extremely hard these days.