Bryce Williams is keeping his options open-and Syracuse is firmly in the mix.
The four-star cornerback out of Western High School in Fort Lauderdale has trimmed his list of suitors to six, and the Orange made the cut. That’s no small feat, considering Williams holds 44 offers, most from Power Four programs.
His finalists? Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas, and Syracuse.
For a kid from South Florida, Central New York might not be the most obvious destination. But when it comes to recruiting, relationships matter-and Syracuse is putting in the work.
“Those are the schools I like the most,” Williams said of his top six. “The coaches are cool, they’re recruiting me hard, and it’s really about relationships.
They’ve gotten to know me, and they’re talking to my parents too. That’s important.”
Williams originally committed to Florida State back in April 2025, but he backed off that pledge in December. Since reopening his recruitment, the offers have continued to roll in-Ohio State, LSU, Texas, and Wisconsin among them.
But it’s not just about who’s offering-it’s about who’s showing up. And Syracuse has made it clear they’re serious.
The Orange extended their offer last September, and since then, the connection has only grown stronger. New nickels coach Marcus Walker has been particularly active in Williams’ recruitment.
“They’ve put a lot of effort into recruiting me,” Williams said of Syracuse. “Multiple coaches come down to see me and recruit me hard.
The relationships are strong. Coach Walker had a really good visit with me recently.”
At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Williams brings size, length, and athleticism to the position-traits that have earned him the No. 23 ranking among cornerbacks in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports composite. He’s still working through his visit schedule, with one trip locked in and more to come this spring.
“I’m talking it over with my parents about visits in the spring,” he said. “I only have one date set so far, but I’ll add more. It would be great to see all the schools on my list and spend more time with the coaches so I can make the best decision.”
He’s clear on what he’s looking for: relationships, opportunity, and development. “Getting to the next level is what’s most important,” he said.
That’s music to the ears of Syracuse head coach Fran Brown, who’s made it no secret that Florida is a key recruiting battleground for his staff. The Orange landed seven players from the Sunshine State in their 2026 class, including five-star wideout Calvin Russell out of Miami Northwestern-ranked as the No. 3 receiver in the country and No. 31 overall.
Syracuse currently holds eight commitments in its 2027 class, which is ranked No. 7 nationally by the 247Sports composite. It’s early, but that kind of start sends a message: the Orange are serious about building something.
Of course, recruiting is fluid. Syracuse has already seen a couple of early commits back away-Davion Crumitie, a speedster from Tallahassee, and Stanley Montgomery, a defensive lineman from Philadelphia who recently visited Penn State. But that’s part of the game.
What matters now is momentum-and with players like Bryce Williams giving Syracuse a long look, it’s clear the Orange are firmly in the conversation.