If you’ve checked any social media or turned on a sports channel in the last two days, you’ve probably seen the news that Penn State recently fired Head Coach James Franklin. The Nittany Lions were on a three game losing streak culminating in a brutal home loss against Northwestern this past Saturday. Recruits are beginning to jump ship; here’s how the Orange can take advantage:
Syracuse has already lined up visits with the following former Penn State commits: 4-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor, 5-star running back Kemon Spell (2027), and 4-star wide receiver Javier Robinson (2027). The Orange have recently tumbled with a two-game losing streak of their own, but fans should be encouraged that high-profile players are placing SU on their list even amidst a skid.
Syracuse has one of the hardest schedules in all of college football to end the season. This Saturday, they host a Pittsburgh team who just took down Florida State and are playing their best football. Pitt’s quarterback, true freshman Mason Heinstchel, has led their offense to 82 points over his first two collegiate starts. SU also travels to Notre Dame and Miami later in the year to play two potential College Football Playoff squads. With quarterback Steve Angeli’s season-ending injury and the team’s recent struggles, putting on a 2024-esque record profile would be nearly impossible.
However, that isn’t what the recruits are looking for.
Think back to the SMU game two Saturday’s ago: Syracuse battled back to make the scoreline manageable, with some fans calling it a moral victory based off of the Mustang’s prowice. The fact that former Penn State recruits are showing interest in the Orange means that they understand it would be a commitment for the future. SU lost nine players to the NFL Draft, with others signing as undrafted free agents. Replacing that amount of talent in a year is a tall task.
Syracuse will have a shot with the ex-Penn Staters if they continue to battle through their games and keep a close margin against the powerhouse teams. Recruits, their families, and high school coaches follow the games just as fans do. These high school juniors and seniors know that SU even making a bowl game at this point isn’t a guarantee. They included ‘Cuse on their visit list because of HC Fran Brown’s culture and the upside of the current 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes.
