2026 QB Zaid Lott, a former Bill Belichick commit, flips to Syracuse
Zaid Lott flipped his commitment from North Carolina to Syracuse Tuesday, marking SU's first quarterback commit of the 2026 class. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor
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Fran Brown has flipped a former Bill Belichick recruit.
Quarterback Zaid Lott, a three-star in the class of 2026, per 247Sports, announced his commitment to Syracuse Tuesday on social media. Lott adds to the Orange’s NCAA-leading 2026 recruiting haul, in which they’ve secured 12 commitments. Lott is the first quarterback SU’s nabbed in the class.
The Charlotte native flipped from his verbal commitment to North Carolina Tuesday, just over an hour before revealing he’d join Brown’s program in 2026. UNC hired Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl Champion head coach, as their new head coach on Dec. 11, 2024. Lott originally committed to the Tar Heels in June 2024 under former head coach Mack Brown.
“I am forever grateful to finally say that I am officially HOME,” Lott posted on X Tuesday.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound signal-caller also fielded offers from Boston College, Florida State, Charlotte and Campbell before choosing SU. He’s a rising senior at Providence Day School in Charlotte, where he was the full-time starter this past season as a junior.
Lott was efficient in 2024; he totaled 2,869 passing yards and 29 touchdowns with six interceptions, tallying an 111.1 quarterback rating. He also totaled 285 yards on the ground and seven rushing touchdowns. Per 247Sports, Lott is the No. 67-ranked quarterback in the 2026 class and the No. 41 overall player in North Carolina.
With LSU transfer Rickie Collins Jr. potentially starting under center for the next two seasons at minimum, Lott likely won’t see the field as an underclassman. He will eventually compete for reps with the Orange’s other rostered quarterbacks, such as 2025 commits Luke Carney and Rich Belin as well as redshirt freshman Jakhari Williams.
Syracuse’s 2026 haul now rates as the 13th-best recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.
