Despite a tough season in which the Orange notched only three wins, head coach Fran Brown and his staff have delivered a milestone on the recruiting trail, signing the highest-rated class in Syracuse football history.
The group is led by five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell III, the Orange’s top recruit in more than two decades. Russell ranks among the nation’s best overall players and is one of the top wide receivers in the 2026 class, instantly raising the ceiling of the program’s recruiting profile.
As a whole, Syracuse’s 2026 class sits around No. 30 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings and ranks in the upper tier of the ACC. Under Brown, Syracuse has now landed its three highest-rated recruiting classes since national recruiting rankings began in the early 2000s, signaling sustained momentum rather than a one-year spike.
The staff’s impact is clear: nearly half of the top 50 recruits ever signed by Syracuse have joined the program within the last three seasons. This year’s class also features several highly regarded four-star prospects and multiple top-50 players at their positions, including elite specialists and standouts on both lines of scrimmage.
This recruiting success aligns with a roster built largely on young contributors. Syracuse returned extensive experience from the 2025 season, including quarterback Steve Angeli, who was among the nation’s leading passers before his injury. Numerous true freshmen saw major playing time, gaining valuable experience against one of the toughest schedules in the country.
With an historic recruiting class arriving and a young core already battle-tested, Syracuse enters the 2026 season positioned for continued growth under Fran Brown. However, it's difficult to tell where this team can go without QB Steve Angeli, so his health in 2026 is just as important as the talent brought in around him.