Fran Brown has a big fish on the line.
According to recruiting insider Mike McAllister, Syracuse has put itself in outstanding position with Elijah Kimble, the consensus No. 1 player in New York State. He’s a consensus 4-star RB/OLB from Canisius High School in Buffalo.
And we’re not talking about a prospect choosing between Syracuse and a handful of regional schools.
We’re talking about a player with offers from some of the biggest brands in college football.
Kimble’s offer sheet includes:
- Ohio State Buckeyes football
- Miami Hurricanes football
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
- Indiana Hoosiers football
And yet Syracuse may currently be the team to beat.
“Syracuse made a huge impression on him,” McAllister said on Cuse Sports Talk.
Then came the quote Orange fans should love.
“He told me Syracuse is a top school after that visit.”
Woah.
In ’24, Kimble ran for 1,778 yards and scored 31 touchdowns last season. He led Canisius to the Monsignor Martin Division A championshp. Last year, he was just as dominant. He gained 1,898 yards from scrimmage and scored 24 touchdowns. He averaged 157 yards rushing per game and 9 yards per carry for a Crusaders team that finished the season ranked No. 9 in New York State’s largest classification (AA).
But McAllister went further.
“He said it was an unforgettable trip that he was absolutely blown away by the coaching staff, what they had to offer, and their plan for him.”
For years, Syracuse recruiting has often seemed lethargic. The Orange would identify talented in-state players, but too frequently watched them leave for national powers.
The pitch under Fran Brown feels different.
There is confidence. There is a vibe.
And perhaps most importantly, there is credibility.
Brown came in with the Jersey roots and pipelines. He had the SEC experience. He has built relationships throughout the Northeast. He’s made keeping New York talent home a priority, like Xavier Bala. And now Syracuse is finding itself in conversations it wasn’t consistently winning before.
This recruitment is not over.
Kimble still has visits scheduled to North Carolina Tar Heels football and UConn Huskies football, and obviously has interest from some of the biggest powers in college football. McAllister reports he’s targeting an early July decision.
A lot can happen between now and then.
But the fact that Syracuse is legitimately in the mix for the state’s top player — against Ohio State, Miami, Notre Dame, and others — is itself evidence of how much the perception of the program has changed.
And if Brown closes the deal?
It would be one of the biggest recruiting victories of his Syracuse tenure.
The Orange have spent years talking about locking down New York.
Now they have a chance to prove it.
