Syracuse got in early with 2028 tight end Colten Lis, and that first offer has clearly left a mark.
Back in January 2025, the Orange were the first program to extend Lis an offer, and since then the relationship has only grown. His recruitment has picked up speed, too, with Lis now sitting on about a half dozen offers. Among the schools in the mix are UMass, Duke and Wake Forest.
Still, Syracuse has a special place in his process because it was there first.
"I think of Syracuse as a potential home for me in the future,” Lis said to The Juice Online. "Getting offered by Syracuse was surreal and still very blessed to this day.”
Lis has stayed in regular contact with several members of the staff, including Charles Watkins, Michael Johnson and Trenton Sherman. The message from the Orange has been consistent: they want him on campus for a game later this season.
"The coaches have been telling me I need to get up to a game, which I will be later in the season, and how much of a perfect fit I am for them,” Lis said.
Part of Syracuse’s appeal is the way it has featured the tight end spot under head coach Fran Brown. Oronde Gadsden put together a big 2024 season with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns before moving on to the Los Angeles Chargers as a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lis says that usage stands out to him.
"I love the way SU uses their TEs,” Lis said. They are all very well appreciated, coached, and used in every aspect of the offense.”
He’s already spent time on campus multiple times, getting a closer look at the facilities, the campus and the JMA Wireless Dome. Those visits also gave him a better sense of the culture around the program and how Syracuse prepares players for the ACC.
"Up close, Cuse has a great welcoming atmosphere,” LIs said. “From coaching to staff members to players, it feels comfortable.”
Lis is still early in the process, but Syracuse is firmly in the group that has caught his attention. He also pointed to Wake Forest, Ohio State, USF, Pitt and UConn as schools that are standing out right now.
The Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas Moore athlete says he can impact a defense in more than one way.
Said Lis: "From catching the ball and moving the chains to having the lead block on a run play I can do it all."
In Other News...
Syracuses New Staff Just Gave Orange Fans Another Reason To Believe
Ben Lees first offseason on the Syracuse staff has already brought a little outside validation. The Orange assistant was named to Hoop Heralds list of 35 assistant coaches under 35, a nod that reflects both his reputation on the bench and the recruiting reach he brings with him after stops at Siena and the University of Washington.
For a program trying to keep momentum building under a new-look staff, that kind of recognition matters because it signals there is more here than just a fresh face in the room. Syracuse has been looking for every edge it can find on the recruiting trail and in player development, and Lees network and background give the Orange another staffer with a profile that suggests he can help in both areas. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Landed A New York Recruiting Win Fans Will Love
Syracuse added a pair of promising New York prospects to its future pipeline, a welcome development for a program that has long sold itself as a state-first destination. The Orange landed 2027 five-star wing Moussa Kamissoko out of the Bronx, giving the mens program a high-end local commitment, while the womens side also picked up a pledge from 2027 point guard Josephine Pinnock of Middle Village.
For a fan base that always pays close attention to who decides to stay home, the timing and geography of these commitments matter just as much as the talent. Having both players officially choose Syracuse gives the Orange a strong recruiting talking point in-state, and it also raises the obvious next question: how much more local momentum can the program build from here? [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Still Has One Big 2027 Recruiting Question After 5-Star Pledge
Syracuses 2027 recruiting board already has some real shape to it after the pledge from five-star wing Moussa Kamissoko, with three-star wing Jack Donohue also in the fold. Even with those two commitments, the Orange are still working through what the rest of that class could look like, and the focus has started to narrow around the wings rather than spreading across multiple positions.
One name worth watching is four-star wing Ahmed Nur, who has already taken official visits to Syracuse and other schools. The Orange are also not viewed as a likely frontrunner for five-star point guard Nasir Anderson, which only adds to the sense that this class may stay small given the way the 2026-27 roster is expected to take shape. Syracuse can still supplement through the transfer portal and international markets, but the bigger question now is whether it lands one more high-end high school piece or simply leans into a compact recruiting class. [Read more 🡒]