Syracuse football is aiming to make a bold move on the recruiting trail-and it involves prying a Big Ten commit out of Michigan.
The Orange recently extended a scholarship offer to Louis Esposito IV, a 2027 three-star offensive lineman who’s been turning heads in the state of Michigan. Esposito, a 6-foot-5, 283-pound junior at Saline High School, earned All-State honors this past season and has already verbally committed to the Wolverines. But with some recent shakeups in Ann Arbor, Syracuse is hoping there might be an opening.
The offer came from new Syracuse offensive line coach Juan Castillo, a veteran with four decades of coaching experience across the NFL and college football. Castillo, who most recently worked as an offensive analyst at Michigan, is bringing his Big Ten ties to the Orange-and he’s wasting no time putting them to work. Esposito shared news of the offer on social media, noting it followed a “great conversation” with Castillo.
Now, this is where things get interesting. Esposito committed to Michigan back in July, choosing the Wolverines over other notable programs like Purdue, Louisville, and Pitt.
He’s also got strong ties to the program-his father, Lou Esposito, is a defensive line coach at Michigan. But with Michigan recently parting ways with head coach Sherrone Moore, the entire recruiting landscape for the Wolverines could be shifting.
And Syracuse is clearly hoping to capitalize on that uncertainty.
Esposito’s stock continues to rise. He helped lead Saline High to a 10-2 record in 2025 and was named to the All-State second team by Sports Illustrated’s Michigan high school football coverage.
Recruiting services are taking note, too. According to the 247Sports Composite, he ranks No. 795 nationally, No. 45 among interior offensive linemen, and No. 12 in the state of Michigan.
Rivals has him even higher nationally, placing him at No. 658 overall.
For Syracuse, the timing of this recruitment push makes sense. The offensive line was a major weak spot in 2025, and with several veterans moving on, there’s a clear need for reinforcements in 2026 and beyond.
The Orange do have some young talent in the pipeline, including current roster players and commits in both the 2026 and 2027 classes. But adding a player like Esposito would be a big win-both in terms of talent and momentum.
Of course, flipping a Michigan commit-especially one with family ties to the program-isn’t going to be easy. A lot will depend on who Michigan hires as its next head coach and how that impacts Esposito’s commitment. But Syracuse is officially in the mix, and with Castillo leading the charge, they’ve got someone who knows how to navigate this kind of recruitment.
This is one to keep an eye on. The Orange are swinging big, and if they can land Esposito, it could be a sign of a new era in Syracuse’s recruiting strategy-one that’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the Big Ten.