A fast-rising national prospect from New Jersey has included Syracuse football in his top 10.
In recent days, 2026 four-star defensive lineman/tight end Damari Simeon, via his X page, disclosed a top 10 of the Orange, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Duke, Texas A&M, Michigan, Tennessee, Penn State, Wisconsin and Texas.
That's quite an impressive list. Ohio State won the latest College Football Playoff national championship. Michigan captured the grand prize two seasons ago. In the most recent CFP, other participants included runner-up Notre Dame, Tennessee, Penn State and Texas.
After a lot of consideration I will be narrowing down my recruitment to these schools…🙏🏾 #Top10 pic.twitter.com/ERS1ivhCyd
— Damari Simeon (@Damari_Simeon) February 9, 2025
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Simeon, per his X account, has received nearly 40 offers throughout his recruiting process. The Orange staff, led by head coach and ace recruiter Fran Brown, offered Simeon a scholarship on May 8, 2024.
Blessed to receive my first offer from Syracuse University! 🍊 @FranBrownCuse @Coach_E_Rob @HermitsFootball @Coach_DLaws @rickymremax @CoachAlstonk @kevinquinn74 @WideoutsCoach @_CoachWatson pic.twitter.com/mqp4k4XTpG
— Damari Simeon (@Damari_Simeon) May 8, 2024
Syracuse football remains in the hunt for 2026 four-star defensive lineman Damari Simeon.
Simeon is a standout junior at the St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, N.J. As we've documented on many occasions, numerous 'Cuse coaches, including Brown, hail from the Garden State, and New Jersey is a recruiting focus for the Syracuse football staff.
Junior Season Highlights!-https://t.co/ahic34iecW@HermitsFootball @rickymremax @Coach_DLaws @CoachAlstonk @WideoutsCoach @kevinquinn74
— Damari Simeon (@Damari_Simeon) November 25, 2024
Currently, Simeon's highest 2026 rankings come courtesy of On3, which has him at No. 46 overall, No. 3 at defensive lineman and No. 1 in New Jersey. Both ESPN and Rivals.com, at the time of this writing, placed Simeon inside the top 250 nationally and in the top 20 at defensive lineman within his class.
Had a GREAT time learning and competing at Syracuse's FRANchise camp yesterday. Honored to win DL MVP. @FranBrownCuse @Coach_E_Rob@CoachDT_Cuse @CoachNickWill @HermitsFootball @Coach_DLaws @rickymremax @CoachAlstonk pic.twitter.com/0xJylfLcWk
— Damari Simeon (@Damari_Simeon) June 4, 2024
According to posts on X, in early June of last year, Simeon took a visit to the Hill to compete in one of the Orange's camps, earning defensive lineman MVP. Additionally, last month, multiple 'Cuse coaches visited Simeon and spent time with him and his family, per a post on X.
Thanks for visiting and spending time with my family.@Coach_E_Rob @CoachNickWill @CoachDT_Cuse @HermitsFootball pic.twitter.com/IzTaCEUVtv
— Damari Simeon (@Damari_Simeon) January 10, 2025
Over the past week or so, Syracuse football has made list cuts of several highly rated 2026 targets. Four-star athlete/defensive back Hakim Satterwhite of the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore has the 'Cuse in his top 10.
The Orange is also in the top 10 of four-star defensive back Khary Adams, who attends Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Md., and in the top five of four-star wide receiver Davion Brown with the Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, Va.
To date, the 'Cuse has secured at least nine verbal pledges among high school juniors in a Syracuse football 2026 cycle that currently resides in the top 15 overall, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and Rivals.com.
Top national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. of Rivals.com, not too long ago, gave some love to the Orange coaching staff for its fast start in 2026.