Syracuse made an early impression on 2030 Buffalo (NY) Canisius High defensive lineman Alex Davis, and the first in-person visit only strengthened that feel.
The Orange were among the first schools to extend an offer to Davis in May, and he made his way to campus in June for Franchise Camp. For Davis, the trip delivered exactly what he was hoping to find.
"The camp was a great experience,” Davis said to The Juice Online. "The competition was high level but I feel like I separated myself and made the most out of every rep. I went in with the mindset to compete and dominate, and I feel like I showed that.”
Davis spent most of his time working with coaches John Scott Jr. and Jeremy Hawkins, and that part of the visit left a clear mark too.
"It was a great opportunity working with them,” Davis said. "They coach with a lot of energy and detail, and I appreciate how they pushed me. I was able to learn a lot from them.”
He said the two coaches offered feedback about where he is now and where he can go next.
"We talked about my potential and the next steps in my development,” Davis said. "They emphasized continuing to work on my technique and staying consistent."
That first look at Syracuse also matched the picture Davis already had in his head. The Orange are the closest high-major program to him, sitting less than a three hour drive from where he grew up, so the visit carried a little extra weight.
"It was a great experience seeing everything in person,” Davis said. "The facilities and atmosphere definitely stood out, and it gave me a real feel for the program and the standards they have there."
Since the offer came in May, Syracuse has kept the relationship moving forward.
"The communication has been great,” Davis said. "They’ve been staying in touch, checking on my progress and continuing to build that relationship with me.”
Davis has also taken notice of Fran Brown’s message around D.A.R.T. - detailed, accountable, relentless, tough - and he said the standard resonates with him.
"I think D.A.R.T. is a great standard for a program,” Davis said. "It shows they’re invested in helping players grow not just in football, but also in academics, life skills, and preparing for life after the game.”
On the field, Davis is coming off a season in which he helped his team win a third National Championship. He described himself this way: "I’m a physical, aggressive defensive lineman who can stop the run and rush the passer."
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Syracuses staff has already been tied to prospects at places like AZ Compass Prep, Long Island Lutheran and Iowa United Prep, while new head coach Gerry McNamaras group is also showing interest in younger targets such as Kevin Wheatley Jr. The change does not alter the talent level of the players Syracuse wants, but it does make their paths a little less straightforward, especially as some recruits will be navigating new homes and new exposure before the next cycle settles in. [Read more 🡒]
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For Syracuse, the challenge is obvious before the games even arrive. Rothstein has the Orange at No. 43, while ESPN and CBS Sports leave them out of their preseason polls altogether, which means McNamaras team may spend much of the year trying to prove it belongs in the same conversation as the programs on its schedule. The upside is just as clear: if Syracuse can navigate that kind of gauntlet, it will have earned every bit of attention that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]