Syracuse Fighting to Hold Onto 2027 Four-Star Tristin Hughes Amid Growing Interest
Syracuse football has a rising star in its sights - and a growing list of challengers trying to pull him away.
Tristin Hughes, a dynamic 2027 four-star athlete out of Rocky River High School in Ohio, is still verbally committed to the Orange, but the battle to keep him in the fold is heating up. Hughes is set to take an official visit to Syracuse from June 5 to June 7, a key weekend that could go a long way in reinforcing his connection to the program.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Hughes is the kind of versatile, game-changing talent that doesn’t stay under the radar for long. He lines up as a defensive back, wide receiver, and return specialist - and he excels in all three phases. His 2025 season was nothing short of spectacular, helping lead Rocky River to an 11-3 record and a spot in the OHSAA Region 10 championship game.
Let’s take a closer look at what Hughes did last fall:
- 1,338 receiving yards - a school record
- 28 total touchdowns - another school record
- Over 1,900 all-purpose yards
- 67 tackles, 3 interceptions (including a pick-six), 3 pass breakups, and 3 forced fumbles
Those aren’t just good numbers - they’re the kind of stats that make college coaches sit up straight and start dialing. And that’s exactly what’s happening.
Since committing to Syracuse back in September, Hughes has seen his recruitment explode. Schools like Purdue and Louisville have already made in-home or school visits, and recent offers have rolled in from programs including Pittsburgh, UConn, West Virginia, Arizona State, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, among others. The competition is fierce, and it’s not slowing down.
Syracuse, to its credit, isn’t backing down either. Assistant coaches Perry Eliano and Dre Kates made an in-home visit with Hughes in late January, continuing to build that personal connection. Hughes posted a photo from the visit, calling it a “great home visit with the Syracuse family” - a sign that the Orange are still very much in the mix.
Recruiting is a long game, especially with a 2027 prospect, but Syracuse has positioned itself well early. Hughes is currently ranked No. 297 nationally by Rivals, No. 31 at safety, and No. 10 in the state of Ohio. Both the 247Sports Composite and Rivals Industry Ranking have him inside the top 375 overall - and he’s the only four-star verbal pledge in Syracuse’s 2027 class so far.
That class, by the way, is shaping up to be one of the strongest in recent memory for the Orange. With eight commitments already on board, Syracuse currently holds the No. 6 overall class ranking via the 247Sports Composite.
Other top targets have also locked in official visits between late May and late June, including:
- Four-star OT Q’mari Hudson (Virginia)
- Four-star RB Xavier Bala (New York)
- Three-star TE Michael Nnabuife (Maryland)
- Four-star WRs Javien Robinson and Khalil Taylor (both from Pennsylvania)
- Three-star athlete DJ Davis (Delaware)
That’s a strong group, but Hughes remains the headliner - and keeping him in the class will be one of the biggest tests of this recruiting cycle for Fran Brown and his staff.
Make no mistake: the Orange are in a fight here. But if they can hold onto Hughes, they’re not just getting a playmaker - they’re landing a cornerstone.