Members of Syracuse’s 2026 class pursue 5th year through lawsuit
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UPDATE: This story was updated at 5:40 p.m. on July 30, 2026.
Syracuse men’s lacrosse’s coveted class of 2026 is looking to make a major shift to the sport’s landscape in 2027.
Sticks In Lacrosse’s Dan Arestia first reported Tuesday that Joey Spallina, Michael Leo, Finn Thomson, Billy Dwan III and Luke Rhoa joined a lawsuit that, if successful, would allow them to return to SU for a fifth season.
Inside Lacrosse’s Matt Kinnear also reported Thursday that an amended complaint removed Spallina and Dwan from this lawsuit, while a Jacksonville men’s lacrosse player and Northwestern track and field athlete were added as plaintiffs.
The former Syracuse stars initially joined four other Division I athletes in the suit, including two UConn football players and one Utah State football player. The news comes just over a month after the NCAA adopted an age-based eligibility model, which gives most D-I athletes five years of eligibility depending on age and enrollment timing.
Inside Lacrosse reportedly obtained documents filed in Denver District Court regarding this case. The documents reportedly state Syracuse head coach Gary Gait could accommodate Leo, Thomson and Rhoa’s returns without displacing a current student-athlete or recruit.
“Syracuse Head Coach Gary Gait has affirmatively represented that Syracuse wants (each player) to return, has an available roster position for him, and can accommodate his return without displacing a current Syracuse student-athlete or member of the 2026 high-school recruiting class,” the lawsuit reportedly states.
The Orange’s former players have jurisdiction in Colorado, where the suit was filed, because of trips to Denver and Air Force last season. Eleven D-I athletes filed a similar lawsuit in the state on July 13.
The suit doesn’t mention the players’ professional lacrosse statuses. All five former SU players originally pursuing the lawsuit had signed contracts in the Premier Lacrosse League. Spallina has tallied 26 points in seven games for the Maryland Whipsnakes alongside Dwan, who is also set to be on Fairfield’s coaching staff. Rhoa has appeared in two games for the New York Atlas. Meanwhile, Leo and Thomson signed contracts with the California Redwoods.
Before their professional careers began, the five players starred for the Orange, leading them to back-to-back Final Fours in 2025 and 2026. Spallina set SU’s all-time points record on April 18 versus Colgate. Leo, Dwan and Rhoa earned All-American honors in 2026. Thomson simultaneously led the Orange with 45 goals.
Out of high school, the five guided Syracuse’s 2022 recruiting class to the No. 1 national ranking. Spallina was the top overall recruit, Thomson and Dwan were fellow five-stars and Leo and Rhoa garnered four stars.
