On Sunday, the head coaches at Virginia Tech out of the Atlantic Coast Conference and UCLA from the Big Ten Conference were fired.
It remains to be seen if verbal commits to both schools in the 2026 class will remain pledged to the Hokies and the Bruins moving forward, and Syracuse football could take a look at some former targets who committed to those two schools.
The early signing period isn't until this December, so there's time for prospects committed to Virginia Tech and UCLA to wait and see who will be the next head coach of each program. Brent Pry with the Hokies and DeShaun Foster at UCLA were both off to poor 0-3 starts heading into week four of the 2025 college football season.
Undeniably, other schools are already reaching out to 2026 commits at Virginia Tech and UCLA, with scholarship offers likely to be extended, if they haven't already been.
Here are Virginia Tech and UCLA verbal commits whom Syracuse football may pursue.
Carter Gooden, UCLA pledge
The 2026 four-star edge and top-100 national prospect held a Syracuse football offer and originally was set to officially visit the Hill in mid-June. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Gooden, out of the Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass., is an elite prospect in the high school senior class and will have his pick of suitors, if he chooses to bolt from the Bruins. He has unofficially visited the Orange on several occasions.
Zaevion Cleveland, Virginia Tech pledge
The 6-foot-4, 187-pound Cleveland is a three-star cornerback/safety in the 2026 class. He is ranked inside the top 800 nationally of this cycle by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking. In mid-June, the senior at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Va., went on an official visit to Syracuse football. It wouldn't surprise me if the Orange staff contacts Cleveland.
Micah Smith, UCLA pledge
Smith is a four-star interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class who held a Syracuse football offer, per 247Sports. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Smith, who attends Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Fla., is ranked as high as No. 46 overall in his cycle by ESPN. Syracuse football coaches have strong recruiting connections in the Sunshine State, and have fared well there over several classes.
Marcus Almada, UCLA pledge
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Almada is a three-star defensive lineman and a top-900 overall player in the 2026 class. He was previously offered by the Orange, and Almada also plays at the Tabor Academy, alongside Gooden.
Adrian Hamilton, Virginia Tech pledge
The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Hamilton is a three-star interior offensive lineman out of St John's College High School in Washington, D.C. The DMV is a key recruiting market for the 'Cuse staff. Hamilton, a top-650 national prospect in 2026, holds a Syracuse football scholarship offer.