Syracuse Football: Calvin Russell III Locks in 5-Star Status in Final 2026 Rankings
Syracuse football fans, take a bow - the Orange just secured one of the most electrifying recruits in the country, and he's already on campus.
Wide receiver Calvin Russell III, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound phenom out of Miami, held firm as a five-star prospect in the final 2026 national rankings released by 247Sports. That’s not just a feather in the cap for head coach Fran Brown and his staff - it’s a full-blown statement.
Russell checks in at No. 30 overall in the 247Sports rankings, and he’s slotted as the No. 3 wide receiver in the nation and No. 3 player in talent-rich Florida. For a program like Syracuse, that’s massive. You have to go back more than two decades to find a recruit this highly rated committing to the Orange.
And here’s the kicker: he’s already in Syracuse, enrolled for the spring semester - and suiting up for the basketball team. That’s right, Russell is also a dual-sport athlete, currently running the wing for the Orange on the hardwood. But make no mistake, his future is brightest on the gridiron.
Russell’s senior year at Miami Northwestern Senior High School was nothing short of dominant. He was named the Dade 3A-1A Offensive Player of the Year after leading his team to a runner-up finish in the 2025 FHSAA Class 3A state playoffs. That came on the heels of a state title in 2024, further cementing his reputation as a big-game performer.
The recruiting industry as a whole is high on Russell, even if the rankings vary slightly. ESPN pegs him at No. 36 nationally.
The 247Sports Composite - which blends rankings from multiple outlets - places him at No. 83, while the Rivals Industry Ranking has him at No. 62.
Regardless of the system, the consensus is clear: Calvin Russell III is elite.
But he’s not the only big-time talent in Syracuse’s 2026 class.
Wide receiver Amare Gough (Richmond, Va.) and defensive lineman Alexander Haskell (Philadelphia) both earned four-star status in the final 247Sports rankings. And they’re part of a larger wave of high-upside prospects that have vaulted this Syracuse class into historic territory.
All told, six signees in the 2026 class are rated as four-stars by at least one major recruiting service. That group includes:
- Kamron Wilson, an edge rusher from Miami
- Tedarius Hughes, a defensive back also out of Miami
- Javeion Cooper, an offensive tackle from the Orlando area
- Jarius Rodgers, an edge rusher from the Jacksonville region
The Orange finished with 26 high school signees in this cycle. According to ESPN, the class ranks No. 27 nationally - the highest-rated high school class in program history.
Rivals has them at No. 33, and the 247Sports Composite slots them at No. 34.
However you slice it, this is a breakthrough moment for Syracuse on the recruiting trail.
Credit where it’s due: Fran Brown and his staff have hit the ground running. They zeroed in on key regions - especially Florida - and landed cornerstone recruits like Russell to anchor a class that could reshape the program’s trajectory.
Russell’s arrival brings more than just hype. He brings size, speed, and a skill set that could make him an immediate contributor. And with the way this class is shaping up, he won’t be the only one.
For a program looking to climb in the ACC and beyond, this 2026 class feels like more than just a step forward - it feels like a foundation.
And with a five-star wideout already in the building, the Orange are officially in the business of landing blue-chip talent.