Syracuse football scores top 5 of 4-star RB Xavier Bala, who sets decision date

New York product Xavier Bala, a 2027 four-star running back whose first high-major scholarship offer was from Syracuse football, has a final five and set a commitment announcement date.

The Orange, which has aggressively courted Bala for a long time, is in his top five, along with defending national champion Ohio State, Nebraska and two fellow Atlantic Coast Conference programs in Boston College and Virginia.

Per his X page, the 6-foot, 215-pound Bala plans to make his college decision known during the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl, which he is competing in and will take place on January 10 in San Antonio, with television coverage on NBC.

Bala is a standout junior at Saint Anthony's High School in South Huntington, N.Y., on Long Island. In the 2025 season, Saint Anthony's went 7-5 overall. Bala said via X that, as a junior, he rushed for 1,411 yards and scored a whopping 26 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 10 receptions for 82 yards.

Syracuse football is in the mix for 2027 4-star RB and All-American Xavier Bala.

Bala holds 19 college offers. The Orange was the first to offer him a scholarship, back on June 14, 2024. Bala has taken several visits to the Hill, including one in late September when Syracuse football hosted Duke at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Within the 2027 class, Bala is No. 199 overall, No. 15 at running back and No. 2 in New York, according to ESPN. At the time of this writing, the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking had him at No. 292 nationally, No. 22 at running back and No. 2 in New York.

Bala, by the way, is also an excellent boxer. In an evaluation published earlier this month, 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote in part that Bala is a "big and powerful running back with a unique boxing background that has impressed multiple times on the offseason camp circuit. ... More of a naturally upright mover, but can make explosive cuts. ... Projects at this stage as a future multi-year contributor at the Power Four level."

In late November, another 2027 four-star running back, Elijah Kimble of Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y., included Syracuse football in his top 10. To date, the Orange has eight verbal commitments among high school juniors in a 2027 class that is No. 8 nationwide, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.