Syracuse football sees two 2027 players de-commit, but still has top-10 national class

Two members of Syracuse football's 2027 class have reneged on their verbal pledges and reopened their recruitments, according to reports and social media posts. While that's a bummer, the Orange's 2027 cycle is still in the top 10 nationally, and 'Cuse coaches remain in pursuit of numerous highly ranked high schol juniors.

On February 3, three-star defensive lineman Stanley Montgomery and three-star athlete Davion Crumitie both said they would reopen their recruitments. As always, I'm wishing Stanley and Davion nothing but great success moving forward.

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Montgomery is a standout at Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia. He verbally committed to the Orange in June of 2025, and recently, Montgomery visited Penn State and Virginia.

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Crumitie, out of Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Fla., verbally pledged to the 'Cuse in September of last year. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite, within the 2027 class, places Crumitie and Montgomery within the top 550 overall.

One important note here is that this off-season, head coach Fran Brown has made a bunch of significant changes to his assistant coaching staff, particularly on the defensive side. With that, it's not a surprise if some SU commits would decide to reopen their recruitments.

Syracuse football, regardless, has the makings of a special 2027 class.

At the time of this writing, the Orange has eight verbal commitments in a 2027 cycle that is No. 7 around the country, per the 247Sports Composite. Seven of the eight pledges are prospects rated three stars, while athlete Tristin Hughes is a four-star player.

In terms of recruiting targets, 2027 three-star tight end Michael Nnabuife from Baltimore visited Syracuse football last Saturday for its junior day, as I first reported. According to 247Sports, after that visit, he has the Orange on top in his recruitment.

Other 2027 prospects whom Syracuse football coaches are pursuing hard these days include, but are not limited to:
•Five-star wide receiver Nick Lennear from Miami
•Four-star edge Mekai Brown from Connecticut
•Three-star quarterback Charlie Foulke IV from Philadelphia
•Edge Bradyn Paulozzi from Ohio
•Three-star offensive lineman James Cocozzo from New York
•Four-star offensive tackle Timi Aliu from Georgia
•Four-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor from the Pittsburgh area
•Four-star wide receiver Javien Robinson from the Pittsburgh area
•Four-star wide receiver Alvin Mosley from Texas