For several reasons, from my perspective, Syracuse football coaches likely needed to add another cornerback via the transfer portal this spring. Earlier this week, they did.
Per media reports and recruiting services, Georgia transfer cornerback Chris Peal recently committed to the Orange, which is led by head coach Fran Brown. Before joining the 'Cuse as its head coach, Brown most recently served as the defensive backs coach at Southeastern Conference powerhouse Georgia.
A huge congrats and welcome from Orange Nation to Chris!
In the 2024 season, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Peal was a redshirt freshman. He is expected to have three years of college eligibility left. While Peal doesn't bring a ton of playing experience to the Hill, he does give Syracuse football another talented prospect in its secondary for the upcoming 2025 season.
After he entered the transfer portal, according to top 247Sports analyst Mike McAllister, Peal visited both the Orange and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member N.C. State.
New Syracuse football transfer CB commit Chris Peal was highly ranked in high school.
According to the Georgia athletics department Web site, Peal was a standout at the Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C. As a member of the 2023 class, he was inside the top 200 nationally, per both the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking.
The On3 recruiting service, in his cycle, placed Peal at No. 83 overall, No. 9 at cornerback and No. 4 in North Carolina. As a transfer prospect, he's rated three stars by several recruiting Web sites.
In an evaluation while Peal was in high school, 247Sports national analyst Brian Dohn wrote in part, "Has size and frame suited for cornerback. Multi-sport profile includes strong track and field numbers. Runs 100 meters in 10.75 seconds, 200 in 21.93, and has 22-3 1/2 long jump and 44-3 triple jump. Productive three-phase player. Physical corner against pass and run. Comfortable in press coverage and able to use length and quick hands to re-route receiver. Possesses solid ball skills. Willing to fight off block to gain leverage on edge and force plays inside. Strong tackler with body control to make plays in space. Reads receivers well and can change directions. Trusts strong technique at top of routes to make plays on ball. Stays on hip of receiver coming out of breaks. Loves playing tight on receiver and is physical in attacking ball. Uses length well. Shows speed to chase down play in open field. Has to continue to work on backpedal and flipping hips to run with receiver when not in press coverage. Adding upper body strength will help accentuate jamming ability. Multi-year starter at Top 20 program. Late round NFL Draft potential."
Following the 2024 campaign, when the Orange went 10-3 overall and was ranked No. 20 in the final Associated Press top-25 poll, cornerback Clarence Lewis, an All-ACC performer, exhausted his college eligibility, while fellow cornerbacks Jayden Bellamy and Marcellus Barnes departed Syracuse football via the transfer portal to UCF and SMU, respectively.
At cornerback, other Orange players to watch include true freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. and true sophomore Davien Kerr.