I’m sure SU fans will never get tired of this. Another day, another successful recruiting story for Fran Brown and Syracuse football as of late. This time around though, the Orange landed a prospect that had mutual interest from regional recruiting rival Rutgers, which has a bigger meaning than you may think right now.
On Friday, three-star defensive lineman Elijah Crawford announced his commitment to the 315. Crawford had settled on a top three of Syracuse, Rutgers, and West Virginia after visiting all three in June, so a win here for Brown is a pretty good one for the class of 2025.
Crawford, who hails from Owings Mills, Maryland, measures in at 6-foot-2.5 and 285 pounds. SU has had plenty of success in this area, especially considering Crawford is from the same hometown as recent running back standout Sean Tucker.
In his junior season at the McDonogh School, Crawford finished with 39 total tackles and two sacks. He is ranked as the 51st-best recruit in the state of Maryland according to 247 Sports.
What’s interesting about this commitment is that it places Syracuse just one behind Rutgers for the most recruits in the country for 2025. Both programs have done a strong job in the Northeast, especially considering Fran Brown’s connections to southern New Jersey. Rutgers currently has 29 committed players, with SU now at 28. It is worth mentioning however that the Scarlet Knights have seven four-stars headed to New Brunswick, where the Orange currently have zero. A prime example of quality over quantity sometimes.
That’s a “battle” worth keeping an eye on for the next season and beyond, but staying in the now, Fran Brown continues to dominate the recruiting board and reshape the culture of Syracuse football. With all the buzz surrounding 2024, it can only be imagined how 2025 might feel with the continuous influx of talent Brown continues to add.
