2028 ATH TJ Maddox is no stranger to Syracuse, and the Orange are no stranger to him.
The Atco (NJ) Winslow Township wide receiver and defensive back first heard from Syracuse early in his recruitment, and the Orange were the first program to offer him in 2024. That early attention has kept Syracuse in the mix, and Maddox was back on campus over the weekend to watch Syracuse face Cal after also visiting for spring practice.
“The visit was great overall,” Maddox said to The Juice Online. “I seen the campus met the coaching staff.
Everyone made me feel welcome. It was a great experience.”
Maddox said the game-day atmosphere stood out, especially inside the JMA Wireless Dome. He also valued the chance to spend more time around the staff and get a better feel for the program.
One of the main conversations came with defensive backs coach Perry Eliano.
“(We) spoke about how the defense did,” Maddox said.
That defense put together a strong outing despite Syracuse’s 21-18 loss to Cal, limiting the Golden Bears to 14 offensive points and fewer than 250 total yards under new defensive coordinator Vince Kehres.
Maddox and Eliano also discussed his growth as a player and what the next steps in his recruitment could look like.
His offer list also includes Boston College, North Carolina, Penn State, Rutgers and Washington, but Syracuse’s place in his process still carries weight because of how early the Orange got involved.
“I always had respect for Syracuse,” Maddox said. “But after this visit gave me a different perspective of Syracuse. The coaches are straight forward and tell you the real.“
On the field, Winslow Township is rolling again at 3-0, and Maddox said he’s keeping his focus on steady improvement.
“My season is going well so far,” Maddox said. “Just focusing on improving my game week-by-week, developing my game by putting in the extra work and staying consistent."
While he lines up on both sides of the ball, Maddox sees himself as a receiver at the next level.
“I am a hardworking athlete," Maddox said. "I’m a physical WR with good hands."
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