I imagine that Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown and his staff are hoping to keep 2026 four-star wide receiver Messiah Hampton, who hails from Rochester, N.Y., in the Empire State for college. But that won't prove easy.
In recent days, On3 vice president of national college football recruiting and the transfer portal Steve Wiltfong, one of the top experts out there in the sport, logged a prediction for the 6-foot-1, 187-pound Hampton to ultimately land at Big Ten Conference member Oregon.
The Ducks, in the 2024 season, went 13-1 overall, won the Big Ten title and reached the 12-team College Football Playoff. What's more, Oregon's lead recruiter for Hampton is wide receivers coach Ross Douglas, who a stanza ago served as Syracuse football's passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach.
According to reports, last weekend, Hampton visited Oregon. Per recruiting services, he has some upcoming official visits scheduled to schools such as Miami, Ohio State and Oregon. There has been some chatter about Hampton possibly eyeing an official visit to the Orange, but I don't believe anything has been finalized at this time.
Other suitors to monitor for Hampton could include Penn State, Michigan and Georgia, analysts have noted in recent months. Wiltfong's projection in Oregon's direction for Hampton is the first one that I've come across.
Oregon may be in the lead for Syracuse football 2026 target Messiah Hampton, a 4-star wide receiver.
Some reports have indicated that Hampton is eyeing a commitment announcement in July. Candidly, I don't envision the 'Cuse prevailing for him unless Syracuse football coaches can get him on the Hill for an official visit.
To date, the Orange has 16 verbal commitments in its 2026 class, including pledges from several wide receivers. Last Saturday, for one, 2026 four-star wide receiver and top-300 national prospect Amare Gough of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Va., verbally committed to the 'Cuse.
Additionally, Syracuse football coaches are heavily involved with 2026 four-star wide receiver and top-15 national prospect Calvin Russell lll of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, who was at the JMA Wireless Dome last month for the Orange's annual spring game.
As a junior at James Monroe High School in Rochester during the 2024 season, Hampton produced 1,900 all-purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns. He resided on the New York State Sportswriters Association's All-State first team on offense.
In this cycle, Hampton is a fast-rising player. In the latest update from On3, Hampton arrived at No. 49 nationally, No. 7 at wide receiver and No. 1 in New York. At the time of this writing, the industry-generated 247Sports Composite placed Hampton at No. 99 around the country in the 2026 class.