Syracuse football’s 2026 season is still months away, but the Orange already have a busy fall lined up on the recruiting front. With home games coming at the JMA Wireless Dome, several verbal commits and recruiting targets from the 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes are scheduled to be on hand for game-day visits.
The first chance comes on Saturday, Sept. 5, when Syracuse opens at home against New Hampshire. Set to visit that day are Julian Corry, a 2028 athlete out of Burlington City High School in Burlington, N.J.; Omari Lawson, a 2028 four-star offensive tackle out of the Zarephath Academy in Jacksonville, Fla.; and Antonio Wilcher, a 2028 three-star defensive lineman out of Miami Southridge Senior High School.
A week later, on Saturday, Sept. 12 against California, the Orange will host Elijah Kimble, a 2027 four-star running back from Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y., who is already a Syracuse verbal pledge.
Lawson is also slated to return for another visit on Saturday, Oct. 17, when Syracuse faces Louisville.
The Oct. 31 matchup with SMU is shaping up as one of the biggest recruiting weekends on the calendar. Kimble will be back again, and so will Jalen Welch, a 2027 four-star safety out of Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., who is also committed to Syracuse. Joining them is Ty Winn, a 2028 four-star offensive tackle from Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School in Drexel Hill, Pa.
Lawson’s third scheduled game-day visit comes Saturday, Nov. 7 against Clemson.
Then on Saturday, Nov. 28, when Notre Dame comes to town, Syracuse will host Michael McQueen, a 2027 three-star athlete out of Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mt. Holly, N.J., another Orange verbal pledge.
There are also several prospects who have shown interest in coming to Syracuse for a game, though nothing had been finalized at the time of this writing.
Among the verbal commits still considering a visit are Amari Eliano, a 2027 three-star athlete from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio; Chanin Harris, a 2027 four-star wide receiver from James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, S.C.; and Nico Ramos, a 2027 three-star offensive lineman from American Heritage Schools in Plantation, Fla.
The list of potential visitors among Syracuse recruiting targets includes Vankino Bethea, a 2029 defensive back out of Miami Southridge Senior High School; Jaxson Carper, a 2028 three-star quarterback from St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, Calif.
; Ayden Edwards, a 2028 three-star quarterback from Tustin High School in Tustin, Calif. ; Chase Foster II, a 2028 four-star defensive lineman from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
; Kaydan Whiteside, a 2028 three-star athlete from Asheville High School in Asheville, N.C. ; Noble Williams, a 2028 four-star running back from Alexandria Senior High School in Alexandria, La.; and TJ Williamson, a 2028 three-star athlete from Raines High School in Jacksonville, Fla.
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JJ Starling Just Put Syracuse In The Middle Of A Bigger Fight
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Starling also has entered the NCAA transfer portal, which keeps his basketball future open while he sorts through his options. He averaged 10.9 points per game last season, and with professional opportunities still on the table, his next decision carries real weight for him and for programs that could be watching the same eligibility battle play out in court. [Read more 🡒]
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Syracuse has not formally announced the partnership, but the move fits a school that has already been willing to lean into sponsorship revenue in creative ways. The Orange previously worked with SRC, Inc. on a sponsored home game relocated to Yankee Stadium, and this latest step shows the program is continuing to adapt to the new business reality around the Dome. [Read more 🡒]
Perry Eliano Has Syracuse's Secondary Facing One Big Question
Perry Eliano arrived in January and immediately stepped into a secondary with some real pieces already in place, including Chris Peal and Demetres Samuel Jr. For Syracuse, that made his job as defensive backs coach less about starting from scratch and more about figuring out how to blend established talent into a defense that can handle different looks. Eliano has leaned into the relationship side of the position, stressing trust as the foundation for developing versatility, especially at safety.
The good news for the Orange is that the group has moved forward since his arrival, enough for the staff to start shifting players into different roles and seeing what fits. The lingering question is the one every secondary coach eventually has to answer: who actually settles into the starting spots when the dust clears? Syracuse is still sorting that out, and until the lineup is finalized, the back end remains one of the more interesting parts of camp. [Read more 🡒]