Syracuse adds to Florida recruiting trail with commits from next 3 classes
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown has recruited the state of Florida extensively, landing 10 commits from the state in SU's next three classes. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer
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Under head coach Fran Brown, Syracuse has established a pipeline in Florida.
The Sunshine State produced six commits in SU’s 2025 class, the second-most of any state. The Orange’s haul included two-way phenom Demetres Samuel Jr.
In just a few weeks, a class-high eight Florida recruits are expected to join the Orange’s 2026 class on Early Signing Day, per 247Sports. Five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell from Miami headlines the group.
More Florida natives should also be making their way to Syracuse soon. SU holds verbal commitments from three Florida prospects in the class of 2027, and 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle Omari Lawson (Jacksonville) has already pledged to join its 2028 class.
“I’m very excited for the state of Florida. I’m thankful,” Lawson said.
Syracuse’s three class of 2027 commits from the state are three-star athletes Tank White and Davion Crumitie, as well as unrated offensive tackle Marcus Small. Though it’s early in the class of 2027 recruiting cycle, Syracuse’s eight-player class currently ranks seventh in the nation, per 247Sports.
SU ranked 53rd in the 2025 cycle, while its 2026 haul is 23rd in the nation. Florida’s three commits in its 2027 class are the most of any state, a large reason the 2027 class could earn the program’s best ranking since 247Sports tracking started in 1999.
Small said Syracuse isn’t super well-known in Florida. But White said he recognized the Orange before their football program recruited him, thanks to Carmelo Anthony and their basketball program.
Other commits, like Lawson, learned of Syracuse through its storied history of NFL players. About two years ago, Lawson began watching Donovan McNabb and Jim Brown highlights on YouTube, noticing how the two SU greats dominated competition.
Early in Small’s recruitment, First Coast High School head coach Jarvis Parker told him about a Syracuse football camp. Small held offers from Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State, but he sought a chance to play at a bigger program. So, he attended the camp in June and left with a scholarship offer from SU offensive line coach Dale Williams.
“I really showed my talents out there,” Small said. “I definitely went out there and balled out.”
Small absorbed Williams’ critiques of his form. He also learned about Syracuse’s coaching philosophy, which he said revolves around pushing players to maximum effort.
Lawson first came in contact with SU’s coaches in the spring, when he took an unofficial visit to Syracuse. He watched the Orange’s practice, and met Fran Brown and SU general manager Thomas Caporale. Lawson said he got a feel for how Syracuse operates. Simultaneously, Fran and Caporale grew closer to Florida.
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“Syracuse has always been No. 1 in my recruiting process,” Lawson said. “They didn’t understand why (Florida prospects) went underrecruited, so they started to recruit Florida a lot more.”
Lawson’s high school head coach at Zarephath Academy, Ivory Durham, has developed relationships with Syracuse coaches, too, pointing out players in the Jacksonville area. In Durham’s eyes, Florida’s high school scene carries lots.
“(Players) are fast down here, athletic,” Durham said. “(It) gives an opportunity for a lot of kids to come to a great institution like Syracuse.”
White pledged to the Orange on June 7, 2024. His recruitment followed a similar path to Small’s and Lawson’s, just a year before.
Like Small, White’s recruitment started with Syracuse camps. At his second camp, White connected with Fran and then-SU wide receivers coach Ross Douglas. He then asked Fran if he could commit to the Orange. White had just entered his sophomore season, committing at a far earlier stage than most other recruits.
Fran and Caporale talk with White “every day.” Other schools continue to contact him, but he hears most from SU, White said. He’s ranked the 60th-best recruit in Florida, according to 247Sports.
While White’s commitment came over a year ago, Small and Lawson committed in October. Both attended SU’s game against Pittsburgh on Oct. 18 at the JMA Wireless Dome.
During the visit, Small noticed Fran’s passion for his players.
“(Fran’s) goal is to make you ready for the real world, and I really like that,” Small said.
Small committed on Oct. 23 and said he continued to hear from SU’s coaches at least three times a week. Meanwhile, Lawson committed on Oct. 24, noticing Fran’s philosophy was about “more than just football.”
“I felt like it was just right,” Lawson said of Syracuse. “The atmosphere was incredible, the energy of the (JMA Wireless) Dome was unreal.”
While there’s still over a year until the class of 2027 commits enroll at SU, coaches are in contact and monitoring the pledges’ developments. Lawson said they’ve told him to keep getting stronger and stay healthy.
Coaches are traveling south to develop in-person connections as well.
Small said SU edge coach Nick Williams visited First Coast to see him in October. Fran and Caporale stopped by Cocoa High School this fall to speak with recruits, including CJ Hester, a class of 2026 Florida commit, who’s a potential flip target for the Orange, White said.
Syracuse has proved it can convince players to choose it over top Florida college programs. Just two weeks ago, the Orange flipped Miami native Tedarius Hughes, a four-star safety, who’d been committed to Florida State. Lawson noticed SU’s knack for flipping recruits.
With their revamped recruiting effort, the Orange have made a statement in many ways under Fran and his staff. As Syracuse maintains its relationships in Florida, recruits have high expectations for the program’s future.
“Syracuse is going to be a national championship team in the next five years,” Lawson said.
