Syracuse football has a rising challenge on its hands - and his name is Stanley Montgomery.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman from Philadelphia’s Archbishop Ryan High School gave his verbal commitment to the Orange back in June. But in the world of college football recruiting, a verbal pledge is more like a handshake - solid, but far from binding. And right now, Syracuse is going to have to grip tight, because Montgomery’s recruitment is heating up.
This past weekend, Montgomery was in State College for a junior day visit with Penn State. It wasn’t just a casual stop-by, either.
He spent time with new Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell, who made the move from Iowa State, and took to social media afterward to share how much he enjoyed the visit. He’s already lined up an official visit with Penn State down the road - a clear sign that interest is mutual.
And it’s not just Penn State making moves. Not long ago, Montgomery took a visit to Virginia, another ACC program, and that trip reportedly went well too.
His offer list is growing - now up to 14 schools - with Temple and Penn State being the latest to join the race. Other programs in the mix include Boston College, Duke, Kentucky, N.C.
State, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Wisconsin, UConn, and Delaware State.
So what makes Montgomery such a hot commodity? Let’s start with the tape - and the production.
As a junior, he racked up 45 tackles, 8 sacks, and 19 tackles for loss, a disruptive presence on the defensive front. Those numbers helped power Archbishop Ryan to a 9-3 record and a Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division title.
Montgomery didn’t just contribute - he dominated, earning first-team All-Catholic honors on both sides of the line. That kind of two-way versatility is rare at his size and speaks volumes about his athleticism and work ethic.
Recruiting services are taking notice. He’s currently ranked No. 536 nationally in the 247Sports Composite, No. 56 among defensive linemen, and No. 18 in Pennsylvania.
Rivals has him even higher - No. 512 overall, No. 51 at his position, and No. 16 in the state. With another strong season, he could very well make the jump to four-star status.
For Syracuse, the stakes are clear. The Orange have built some early momentum in the 2027 class, sitting at No. 5 nationally per the 247Sports Composite.
They’ve already locked in at least 10 verbal commits, most of them three-star prospects, though they do have a four-star in athlete Tristin Hughes out of Ohio. Keeping Montgomery in the fold would be a major win for a program looking to elevate its recruiting profile - especially in the trenches, where games are so often won and lost.
But with Penn State and others making a strong push, this recruitment is far from over. Syracuse will need to stay aggressive, build on their relationship with Montgomery, and show him that staying Orange is the right move - not just for his football future, but for his development as a player and a person.
The battle is on. And if the Orange want to keep Montgomery in the 315, they’ll have to earn it.