Syracuse football picked up some big momentum recruiting wise this past weekend by landing two new 2020 commits, and now the Orange looks to keep it going with a ton of big name targets coming to campus for visits this upcoming weekend.
Based on rankings, this is one of the biggest SU football recruiting weekends in awhile. Seven high-priority targets have scheduled visits this weekend on campus. Three of the seven have rankings above 87 overall on 247sports.com. To put that in perspective, here’s the short list of just nine players in the past four recruiting cycles to commit to Syracuse with a rating above 87 on that site.
2019: Cornellius Nunn, Mikel Jones, Geoff Cantin, Lee Kpogba
2018: Trill Williams, Qadir White, Ed Hendrix
2017: Tommy DeVito, Ravian Pierce (transfer)
2016: None
Here’s everything you need to know about these seven targets that could soon be picking the Orange.
WR: Bryce Gowdy (Deerfield Beach, Deerfield Beach, FL)
Size: 6-2, 180
Ranking: 342nd, 4-star, 89 overall (via 247sports.com)
Other Offers: Florida State, Florida, Arkansas, Oregon, Tennessee, Penn State, WVU, GT
Fringe ESPN300 receiver. Coming to Syracuse Thursday to tour campus. Just finished up an OV at West Virginia last weekend and Georgia Tech at the end of May. Syracuse was his very first offer. He’s really risen since then and SU now has to compete with offers from elite level schools across the nation. Super speedy and shifty. Would be an instant playmaking threat on the outside. Think Taj Harris (almost the exact same build) but maybe even more impactful as a freshman.
Gowdy is the highest rated player and the only four-star target on 247sports.com that is coming this weekend. The Orange have only landed two recruits with the same rating as him at 89 overall (Trill Williams and Tommy DeVito) in recent memory. Simply put, he would be one of the biggest commitments of the Dino Babers era.
WR: Kentron Poitier (Miami Palmetto, Miami, FL)
Size: 6-3.5, 205
Ranking: 607th, 3-star, 87 overall (via 247sports.com)
Other Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Oregon, Florida, Miami, Michigan
Coming June 21st (Friday) along with high school teammate and fellow 2020 target Robert Hanna (see below). Both guys go to the same HS as top 2019 recruit Cornellius Nunn did. Fringe 4-star with great athleticism and size. Could basically go anywhere he wants. Feels like SU has realistic shot because there was mutual interest early on. Main recruiter, Nick Monroe, visited him on May 18th, 2019.
Poitier has an absolutely loaded offer sheet. Syracuse is his only visit planned though right now, according to 247sports.com. More proof wide receiver could be Dino Babers’ position of the future in regards to recruiting.
S: Robert Hanna (Miami Palmetto, Miami, FL)
Size: 6-0,170
Ranking:1275th, 3-star, 83 overall (via 247sports.com)
Other Offers:Miami, Louisville, Liberty, Pitt, UCF, USF, UAB
He’s coming up Friday with HS teammate and WR Kentron Poitier (see above). Already unofficially visited SU back on April 13th. Has picture of him rocking Syracuse jersey as his Twitter avatar pic, which can’t be a bad sign. One of his only other visits was hometown Miami. Could be between the Orange and the Hurricanes for this play-making safety from Miami Palmetto HS in FL (remember what happened last time that was the case). We’re looking at you Cornelius Nunn.
Lowest rated player coming this weekend but still would be a very solid get and, of course, you’d think would increase the chances of getting Poitier as well.
ROBERT HANNA HIGHLIGHTS
DE/LB: Latarie Kinsler (Pahokee, Pahokee, FL)
Size: 6-2, 204
Ranking: 382nd, 3-star, 88 overall (via 247sports.com)
Other Offers: Miami, LSU, Oregon, Louisville, Texas A&M, Penn State, WVU
4-star on some sites. Edge-rusher who committed to Louisville really early (April ‘18) and then de-committed in October ‘18. Small but dynamic and disruptive. Came to Syracuse in late March ‘19. OV is on Friday, June 20th.
Kinsler has been touring a lot lately. He visited West Virginia, Virginia and UCF recently. Also plans to visit Miami and Oregon this summer, reportedly. Fits the mold of tall, quick and skinny. Feels like defensive staff has been recruiting that way, perhaps given style of Tampa-2 D.
ATH: Israel Abanikanda (Abraham Lincoln, Brooklyn, NY)
Size: 5-11, 197
Ranking: 1115th, 3-star, 84 overall (via 247sports.com)
Other Offers: Pittsburgh, BC, Buffalo, Vandy, Duke, Cal
Pittsburgh appears to be main competition at this point (OV on June 14th). Athlete that many see as a slot wide receiver and/or shifty running back. Also has some potential at defensive back, according to scouts. HIGHLIGHTS
ATH/S: Charles Bell (Quince Orchard, Gaithersburg, MD)
Extremely Honored to receive an offer from @CuseFootball #orange üçä pic.twitter.com/0T6EyctdBr
— Charles Bell VI (@charlesbell_6) January 24, 2019
Size: 5-11.5, 195
Ranking:1006th, 3-star, 84 overall (via 247sports.com)
Other Offers: Maryland, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech
Explosive safety with solid instincts. Came to campus already once for an unofficial visit back in late March. Second time in three months for him. Maryland is making a late push. Seems like the instate Terps are toughest competition but Syracuse is right there for him.
DT/OT: Josh Ilaoa (Mallard Creek, Charlotte, NC)
SYRACUSE THIS WEEKEND!! #JuicedUpüçäüçä @CuseFootball @SyracuseOn247
— Josh Ilaoa (@honchojosh) June 18, 2019
Size: 6-3, 280
Ranking: 1480th, 3-star, 83 overall (via 247sports.com)
Other Offers: ECU, Elon, Illinois, Colorado State, James Madison, Kent State
Ilaoa is not an official visitor. This is an unofficial visit for the Charlotte linemen this weekend, so essentially he is not using up one of his five OV’s on Syracuse like the other six players above. Unlike some of the other targets and commits in this cycle, Ilaoa has a college ready body right away. At 280 pounds, quickness would be his question mark.¬†Syracuse feels like the favorite but still early on him.
Check out my highlightsüò§ – https://t.co/ZwHkKnPuJm
— Josh Ilaoa (@honchojosh) November 28, 2018
In an earlier version of this article, Tirek Austin-Cave was listed as a visitor this weekend as well, reports have now indicated he will not be coming to campus and has no intentions of doing an OV with Syracuse, according to CuseNation.
Check out our complete 2020 football recruiting guide for more. 
