James Pace III, an elite edge rusher from the DMV, has a top eight that includes Syracuse football.
The consensus 2027 four-star defensive end, per Hayes Fawcett of Rivals/On3, is down to the Orange, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, Alabama and Georgia. That's some kind of list. Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Alabama and Georgia are all competing in this season's 12-team College Football Playoff.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Pace is a junior at the famed DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. DeMatha is a top-flight program in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, which is a key recruiting market for the Orange coaching staff.
NEWS: Four-Star EDGE James Pace is down to 8 Schools, he tells me for @rivals⁰
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 12, 2025
The 6’4 230 EDGE is ranked as a Top 100 Recruit in the 2027 Class (per Rivals Industry)⁰⁰Where Should He Go?https://t.co/ExSHIMMMG3 pic.twitter.com/ZCWfXEJB9d
The 'Cuse offered a scholarship to Pace in September of 2024. According to 247Sports, he has hauled in more than 20 high-major offers throughout his recruiting process.
Very blessed to receive a offer to Syracuse University! #AGTG ✝️ pic.twitter.com/9s5p2dR3mw
— James “Jroc” Pace (@luljroc_) September 15, 2024
Syracuse football remains in the mix for 2027 4-star edge James Pace III.
DeMatha, late last month, wrapped up an impressive 2025 season. The Stags beat Gonzaga College High School from D.C. by a final score of 20-13 in Annapolis, Md., to win a second consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference ("WCAC") championship.
DeMatha finished at 11-0 overall. MaxPreps has the Stags at No. 14 nationally and No. 2 in Maryland. With that most recent crown, DeMatha has now captured 26 WCAC titles in football.
Within the 2027 class, Pace is highly ranked. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite has him at No. 90 overall, No. 13 at edge and No. 3 in Maryland. Pace is No. 68 nationally via 247Sports, along with No. 6 at edge and No. 3 in Maryland.
The industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking, at the time of this writing, had him at No. 100 overall, No. 13 at edge and No. 4 in Maryland. Pace checks in at No. 82 nationwide, according to ESPN.
Currently, head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff have eight verbal pledges in their 2027 cycle, a class that ranks No. 8 overall, per the 247Sports Composite. Undeniably, the competition to prevail for Pace is mighty steep, but I'd never count out Brown in a recruiting battle for a premier high school prospect.