Syracuse’s ACC opener against California this weekend at the JMA Wireless Dome is about more than the Orange trying to move to 2-0. More than a dozen recruits are expected to be in the building, and three 2028 prospects shared their thoughts on Syracuse as they get ready for the visit.
For Atlantic City (NJ) High two-way, two-sport standout Day-Thompson, the Syracuse relationship has been steady since Fran Brown offered him in January of 2025. He’s stayed in regular contact with the Orange ever since, and one part of the process has really stuck with him: Brown himself.
"Coach Brown is a guy that’s known for keeping it real with everyone,” Day-Thompson said. "I appreciate that from a coach especially during the recruitment process.”
Day-Thompson is also a high-level basketball player, and while he has lined up at both defensive back and wide receiver on the football field, Syracuse is recruiting him most heavily as an offensive player. Temple and Delaware State are also on his offer list.
Another New Jersey name on Syracuse’s radar is Maddox, the Atco (NJ) Winslow Township wide receiver and defensive back who was last on campus in April for spring practice. Syracuse has been involved with him for a while now, first extending an offer in 2024, and he has previously identified the Orange as one of five schools that stand out. Rutgers, Temple, UNC and Wake Forest are the others.
Maddox has also been impressed by the way Brown and his staff have made New Jersey a priority.
"They are in good hands with coach Fran Brown as the head coach,” Maddox said. "I think Syracuse will continue to acquire talent from New Jersey, in particular South Jersey because of coach Fran’s history there."
For Springdale (MD) Flowers defensive back/wide receiver Imhotep, Syracuse made the first move. The Orange were the first school to offer him in May 2025, and he said that moment meant a lot.
"I think the Syracuse offer was truly a blessing," Imhotep said. "I’ve been working hard in school and the field and getting the offer just showed me that I’m on the right track."
Imhotep said the offer came from Syracuse coach Dre Kates, and the two discussed how the program can help him develop on and off the field.
"I think Syracuse has an amazing program," Imhotep said. "They produce great athletes and men constantly putting guys in the perfect position to be great in football and life outside of football."
In Other News...
Syracuse Already Faces A Bigger Problem Than Its 1-1 Start
Syracuses 1-1 start has left enough room for optimism, but the bigger issue around the program may be the one sitting in the stands. With a short week leading into a Thursday night trip to Pittsburgh, the Orange are trying to keep momentum on the field while also working to rebuild the kind of home support that can make a season feel different. New athletic director Bryan Blair has already been part of efforts to improve fan engagement and the gameday experience, including ticket discounts, but the task of getting people fully back in the building remains a stubborn one.
Recent losing stretches have made that harder, and it is not the sort of problem that gets solved by a decent opening couple of weeks. Syracuse needs the next stretch of games to matter not just for its record, but for the larger sense of belief around the program. If the Orange can keep winning, the conversation around the season changes quickly. If not, the gap between what the program is trying to build and what fans are willing to buy into could keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
Justus Ross-Simmons Finally Played But Syracuse Still Has A Worry
Justus Ross-Simmons went from unavailable to active in a matter of hours, giving Syracuse a late boost before its game against Cal after an Onondaga County judge granted a temporary restraining order that restored his eligibility. He had initially been ruled ineligible because of his removal from a lawsuit in Texas, but the last-minute ruling cleared him to play, and he wasted little time making an impact in his first collegiate game in 322 days with six catches for 105 yards.
The bigger issue for Syracuse is still hanging out there. Ross-Simmons status remains under review, and a hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30, leaving the Orange with at least some uncertainty about how long they can count on one of their most productive pass-catching options. For now, they got him on the field, but the broader question around his eligibility is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Loss Still Revealed One ACC Threat Fans Should Notice
Syracuses loss to Cal did not come with much consolation, but it did show a few reasons the Orange still have some teeth as they move deeper into ACC play. Daunte Bacheyie was one of the sharper offensive takeaways, finishing with four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, while linebacker Chris DAppolonia paced the defense with 11 tackles and offered perspective afterward on how the team needs to handle the next stretch.
Special teams also flashed enough to keep Syracuses coaches and fans paying attention, even if the results did not stick. Davien Kerr and Demetres Samuel each had punt returns wiped out by penalties, a frustrating twist in a game where hidden-yardage swings mattered, and it left one more reminder that the Orange can create momentum in more than one phase if they clean up the details. [Read more 🡒]