Syracuse Football: Teams may try to flip 5-star Calvin Russell, but he says, 'I’m done'

Syracuse football landed its highest-ranked commit in more than 20 years this past weekend, and 2026 five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell lll tells a top recruiting analyst that his recruitment is shut down.

This is highly encouraging for a 'Cuse fan base that would likely feel uneasy over the next few months as other suitors try to flip the 6-foot-5, 190-pound Russell. The early signing period for 2026 prospects isn't until later this year, although Russell "fully intends to sign with Syracuse on National Signing Day," writes Rivals analyst Marcus Benjamin.

Russell said of his recruiting process, "It’s over. I’m done. There will be nothing else going on with my recruitment. I’m done."

Top expert Pete Nakos, a college sports business and transfer portal reporter with On3, reports that Russell has agreed to a multi-year name, image and likeness ("NIL") deal with the Orange that is valued in the "multi-million-dollar range," according to a post on X.

Syracuse football stunned the nation in landing 2026 5-star WR Calvin Russell lll.

Russell had a final four of the 'Cuse, Michigan, Oregon and Florida State. While the standout rising senior and state champion at Miami Northwestern Senior High School has visited the Hill several times, he officially visited other suitors but not the Orange before making his commitment announcement.

That could bode well for Syracuse football coaches in trying to hold off any other squads that may try to flip him. I expect Russell to take an official visit to the Orange in the coming months, and there's some chatter that he could enroll early at Syracuse in January of 2026.

Rated in the top 25 nationally by 247Sports as an elite wide receiver, Russell will also suit up for Syracuse basketball, a source has confirmed to me.

Russell kept his recruitment so close to the vest that top national analysts and other insiders went back and forth on which school may have been the favorite heading into his decision, although in the end, things seemed to boil down to Michigan and Syracuse football.

But to reiterate, I don't believe Russell can officially visit the Wolverines and other campuses that he visited of late, while he has an official visit available to the Orange. He said to Benjamin, "Michigan came close, but Coach Fran (Brown), the individual he is, how he was raised, I feel it. How he carries himself, the men I was raised around are similar to him, that’s why I want to be there."

Rest easy, Syracuse football fans. We should be good to go with Calvin as he eyes the early national signing period, which usually takes place every December.