Khalil Taylor, one of the most electric playmakers in the 2027 recruiting class, is heading to Central New York this summer. The four-star wide receiver out of Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, has locked in an official visit to Syracuse from June 19 to June 21 - and yes, that’s a big deal.
Taylor isn’t just another name in the rankings. At 6-foot, 180 pounds, he’s a dynamic, do-it-all athlete who earned All-American honors as a junior, and his tape backs it up.
He’s the kind of guy who makes you sit up in your seat every time he touches the ball - whether it’s on offense, defense, or special teams. And Syracuse is making it clear: he’s a priority.
The Orange aren’t alone in that pursuit. Taylor also has official visits set with Colorado, Georgia, and Penn State - three programs with serious recruiting muscle.
But Syracuse is very much in the mix, and their staff is putting in the work. Defensive assistant Dre Kates recently made the trip out to see Taylor in person, and the Orange have been in steady contact since offering him a scholarship back in May 2024.
Taylor had originally planned to visit Syracuse for junior day on January 31, but that trip didn’t happen. Still, both sides are staying engaged, and there’s talk of him making it to campus again during spring practices - another sign that the relationship is strong and still building.
And it’s easy to see why Syracuse - and everyone else - wants him. Taylor’s junior season was nothing short of spectacular.
He caught 33 passes for 571 yards and 16 touchdowns, and added 70 rushing yards on just seven carries. But his impact didn’t stop there.
On defense, he logged 22 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions, and four pass breakups. Then there’s the special teams work - and this is where he really separates himself.
Taylor racked up three punt return touchdowns, three kickoff return touchdowns, and even returned two interceptions to the house. That’s eight non-offensive touchdowns, for those keeping score.
Pine-Richland finished the 2025 season with an 11-2 record, making it all the way to the WPIAL Class 5A championship game. Taylor’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed - he was named a first-team All-American return specialist by Rivals, earned Class 5A All-State honors, and took home Pennsylvania’s Class 5A Player of the Year award.
Recruiting rankings reflect what we’re seeing on the field. Taylor is a top-65 national prospect in the 2027 class, per the 247Sports Composite, and both 247 and Rivals have him among the top 15 wide receivers in the country - and top five in Pennsylvania. That’s elite company.
Taylor was previously committed to Penn State but reopened his recruitment last fall. Since then, there’s been a shakeup in Happy Valley, with James Franklin moving on to Virginia Tech and Matt Campbell stepping in from Iowa State. Penn State remains a major player in his recruitment, but Syracuse is right there in the mix, looking to make a statement under head coach Fran Brown.
As it stands, Syracuse has eight verbal commits in its 2027 class, which currently ranks No. 7 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite. Adding Taylor to that group would be a massive win - not just for the rankings, but for the future of the Orange offense.
Bottom line: Taylor is the kind of player who can change a game - and maybe even a program. Syracuse is in the hunt, and come June, they’ll get their shot to make a lasting impression.