Breaking down Syracuse football’s March recruiting trail
Syracuse football earned six commitments across its 2026 and 2027 classes after extending 30 offers to recruits over the last two months. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
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After offering over 140 recruits in January, Syracuse has dished out over 30 offers in February and March. In March, the Orange added seven recruits, including six in the 2026 class and one 2027 prospect.
Since the start of 2025, SU’s coaching staff has offered prospects from 24 states, Washington, D.C. and Canada.
Here’s a breakdown of the different regions and recruits Syracuse targeted and landed commitments from during March:
Commits bolster 2026 class
Syracuse added six 2026 recruits in March to bring its class total to 15. The additions boosted the Orange to the nation’s 10th-best 2026 class, per 247Sports.
Shortly after announcing the opening of its new football performance center, SU landed its first commitment of March from 2026 athlete E’Shawn Sutton. One day later, on March 22, wide receiver Darnell Stokes chose Syracuse, becoming the third Delaware native in its 2026 class.
Syracuse’s most intriguing commitment might’ve been flipping quarterback Zaid Lott from Bill Belichick’s North Carolina on March 25. Lott, a Charlotte, North Carolina, native, is ranked the 67th-best signal caller in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports.
SU was especially active at the end of the month, hauling in three recruits. Kamron Wilson, an edge rusher from Florida, committed to Syracuse on Sunday while New Jersey natives Josiah Zayas and Zaiden McDonald followed on Monday. Wilson received 27 offers and picked SU over Florida State, California and Minnesota.
The Orange also garnered one commit in the next recruiting cycle with defensive back Travis Miles, marking the third recruit in their 2027 class.
Top Lists
Syracuse made several recruits’ top lists, including four prospects ranked in the 2026 ESPN Junior 300 list. On March 1, SU made the top 12 of wide receiver Calvin Russell, ESPN’s 24th-ranked prospect.
Russell’s teammate at Miami Northwestern, class of 2026 defensive tackle James Johnson, included SU in his top 10 on March 1. Johnson is ESPN’s 273rd-ranked prospect, and besides Syracuse, his list includes FSU, Penn State and Colorado.
Sticking to the defensive side of the ball, outside linebacker Terry Wiggins placed SU among his top 10 schools, and safety Andre Clarke positioned SU in his top eight. Clarke, ranked 97th by ESPN, also has Atlantic Coast Conference foes Virginia Tech and Southern Methodist on his list.
Later in the month, the Orange returned their focus to offensive playmakers. Syracuse maintained its foothold in Florida by snagging 2026 wide receiver Larry Miles’ top 10 on March 11. SU is competing with Georgia Tech and Boston College to secure Miles.
On March 26, SU made the top four for quarterback Derek Zammit alongside Alabama, Mississippi State and Washington. The New Jersey native is ranked the 21st quarterback in the nation by 247Sports, making him a big get if he commits to SU.
Dakota Dorsey | Design Editor
More uncharted waters
In January, SU made offers to players in 18 states, Washington, D.C. and Canada. Two months later, the Orange extended their range to six more states.
Syracuse offered scholarships to recruits in Louisiana, Colorado, Nevada and West Virginia. On March 17, SU special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield provided an offer to linebacker Tyray Darensburg, a three-star recruit in the class of 2026, per Rivals.
SU’s coaching staff also offered Reis Russell, a 2027 offensive lineman from Colorado. Russell is a four-star, per Rivals, and holds 18 offers, including ones from Miami and Penn State.
Syracuse ventured to Nevada for the second time this year, as SU offensive line coach Dale Williams extended an offer to 6-foot-8 prospect Dominic Harris, the No. 2 2026 player from The Silver State, per 247Sports.
The Orange covered most of the Mid-Atlantic region in January but didn’t offer a West Virginia prospect until March. That player was Jimmy Gregg, the No. 5-ranked punter in the 2026 class, per Kohl’s Kicking. Gregg, a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, holds offers from the Mountaineers and Purdue.
Offering underlooked recruits
Syracuse was one of the first programs to extend offers to several players in March. Four SU coaches, including General Manager Tommy Caporale and head coach Fran Brown, offered Florida native Luke Francis.
SU offensive analyst Devin Redd was among the first to offer Amherst, New York’s Xavier Gates-Franklin in the class of 2028.
Syracuse gave 2027 running back Roman Coney his first offer on March 29. Earlier in the month, SU scouting assistant Stack Williams provided 2028 running back Fogo Filani his first offer.
At the end of the month, Syracuse hosted 2026 athlete Zikhere Leaks, a Pennsylvania native, at one of its spring practices. Leaks picked up his second offer from SU shortly after earning one from the University at Buffalo earlier in March.
Brown then offered 2028 athlete Victor Ezeukwu on March 29. Ezeukwu visited Syracuse for a spring practice and left with his third offer, as the Orange joined Penn State and Cincinnati on his list.
