5-star WR Calvin Russell officially signs with Syracuse
After some speculation that Calvin Russell would flip his commitment from Syracuse to Miami or Michigan, he officially signed with the Orange Thursday. Courtesy of Jude Kolkana
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Five-star wide receiver recruit Calvin Russell officially signed with Syracuse on Thursday after speculation he’d flip to another program before the early-signing period deadline closed. Russell’s agent, Justin Giangrande of NETWORK, initially reported on Wednesday that he’d make his decision Friday. However, Russell delivered the news a day in advance that he was choosing the Orange.
Russell originally committed to SU on July 5, becoming the third five-star recruit in its history. The Miami native drew heavy interest from his hometown Hurricanes as well as Florida State and Michigan. But he ultimately decided to keep his word to Syracuse head coach Fran Brown — who expressed utmost confidence the Orange would retain Russell.
“I have complete confidence. I’m really good at recruiting, but I’m also great at building relationships, and I got faith in the block ‘S,’” Brown said Wednesday at SU’s signing day press conference, while he pointed to an orange ‘S’ logo on his white-collared polo.
Commotion swelled Wednesday afternoon when Russell announced at an event inside Miami Northwestern High School (Florida) that he’d wait until Friday to make his official decision and wasn’t signing with SU yet. It initially seemed as if another program like Miami or Michigan was trying to swoop in late and secure a last-minute flip from Russell.
Those rumors were heavy, in part, because of Syracuse’s disappointing 3-9 2025 season, which already led to three recruits decommitting after the Orange lost to then-No. 9 Notre Dame 70-7 on Nov. 22, their fourth-largest loss in team history.
Brown said Russell’s choice to postpone his decision is simply the “nature of the business.” On Thursday, SU’s head coach got the deal over the finish line.
Russell, the Orange’s highest-rated commit since 2001, is set to be a major part of Syracuse’s future plans and headlines its loaded 2026 recruiting class that currently ranks 31st in the nation, per 247Sports. Time will tell to see how much playing time he receives at wideout next season with quarterback Steve Angeli slated to return from his Achilles injury.
