Following a big-time get this weekend, Syracuse football has a 2026 class that is inside the top 10 around the country, as head coach Fran Brown and his assistants continue to perform at a high level in this cycle.
On Saturday, as I noted in a separate column, 2026 four-star wide receiver and top-300 national prospect Amare Gough out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Va., said on his X page that he had verbally pledged to the Orange.
With that news, the 'Cuse has 16 verbal commitments in this class, and the program's 2026 cycle is currently No. 9 nationwide, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. Over at Rivals.com, on Sunday, the Syracuse football 2026 class was No. 11 overall, while it was No. 25 nationally via the On3 Web site.
While we have a way to go with this cycle, Brown and his staff certainly are poised for a top-25 class, and I wouldn't be surprised if it remains in the top 10, particularly since the Orange is in pursuit of numerous other highly ranked prospects in the 2026 cycle.
Let's delve into the Syracuse football 2026 class a bit further.
Here's the geographic breakdown of this 'Cuse cycle:
California: One commit
Delaware: Three commits
Florida: Five commits
Maryland: One commit
New Jersey: Two commits
North Carolina: One commit
Pennsylvania: Two commits
Virginia: One commit
According to the 247Sports Web site, here is the positional breakdown:
Athletes: Two commits
Defensive backs: One commit
Defensive linemen: One commit
Edge rushers: One commit
Offensive linemen: Four commits
Quarterbacks: One commit
Running backs: One commit
Wide receivers: Five commits
Some Syracuse football 2026 four-star priority recruiting targets to monitor in the coming months include wide receiver Calvin Russell of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, defensive lineman James Johnson, also of Miami Northwestern, defensive back Tedarius Hughes of Miami Northwestern, defensive back CJ Hester of Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla., wide receiver Messiah Hampton of James Monroe High School in Rochester, N.Y., and edge Carter Gooden of the Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass.
Additionally, 'Cuse three-star targets in the 2026 class to keep an eye on include tight end Brady Owens of Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va., and wide receiver Nyqir Helton of Winslow Township High School in Atco, N.J.
Many of these 2026 recruits have upcoming official visits scheduled to Syracuse football.