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Syracuse earned its third top-25 victory of the season with a 42-38 win over then-No. 8 Miami on Saturday. While the Orange completed a 21-0 comeback, high school recruits watched from the stands of the JMA Wireless Dome.

The scenes in the Dome — as SU rallied to shock the Hurricanes and fans stormed the turf — struck a chord with the recruits.

“You don’t experience that every day,” Ben Congdon, a 2026 recruit, said.

Congdon was one of 100 recruits invited to SU’s final regular-season game. The visit served as an opportunity for Syracuse prospects from the classes of 2025-28 to learn what it takes to compete at the Division I level and develop relationships with SU’s coaching staff.

Here are some of the recruits’ takeaways from the Miami game and where their recruiting process stands following Syracuse’s comeback win:

Emulating current SU players

Despite trailing big early in the second quarter, Syracuse’s offense clawed back to tie the game just a minute into the second half.

As 2026 quarterback recruit Lamar Best watched SU signal caller Kyle McCord lead the Orange’s offense, Best observed what it takes to succeed under center in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“Kyle was able to do what he wanted with the ball, and there was a lot of open stuff that he was able to get to,” Best said.

On the first drive of the third quarter, McCord found Trebor Peña on consecutive plays for a quick score. 2027 recruit Sebastian Lora tracked Peña due to their similar “twitchy” playstyles and size.

Steven Pickard Jr., a 2026 offensive guard, was attracted to SU’s pro-style schemes. Pickard and Congdon each took note of the Orange’s offensive line movement and communication.

With the game tied at 28-28, defensive back Devin Grant converted a 56-yard scoop and score to give SU its first lead of the game. That play stood out to 2025 recruit Gavin Magorien.

“It could have been one of the best defensive plays I’ve ever seen,” Magorien said.

Pushing for New Jersey control

New Jersey became one of head coach Fran Brown’s most targeted areas for recruiting when he took the SU coaching position in 2023. The Orange signed 13 recruits from New Jersey in their 2024 class. Meanwhile, SU brought in transfers McCord, Duce Chestnut and Fadil Diggs, all New Jersey natives.

New Jersey natives Best, Gabe Palaganas and Roseby Lubintus each attended the Miami game. Palaganas observed how the undersized SU edge rushers were effective against a taller Miami offensive line, something the 6-foot-1 recruit aims to emulate.

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During National Signing Day on Dec. 4, three more players from Philadelphia and New Jersey officially signed to Syracuse’s 2025 class, further highlighting Brown’s dominance in the region.

“He does a good job recruiting from our area, Philly, South Jersey, North Jersey,” Palaganas said. “He’s gonna get a lot of good players from around here.”

New territory in Florida recruiting

Syracuse has emerged on the recruiting scene in Florida. After signing just one player from the Sunshine State in its 2024 class, SU flipped three Florida natives to sign to its 2025 class.

The top-ranked player in SU’s newest recruiting class, four-star cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr., flipped to the Orange from the Gators and made his official visit to the Dome against Miami. Along with Samuel, Florida natives Pickard and Brogan McNab made the trip north to see Syracuse.

Pickard said at least five recruits from Florida were in attendance Saturday. Thomas Caporale, a member of SU’s recruiting staff, has been key in developing relationships in the area, McNab added.

“I think they’re really going after the talent,” Pickard said. “The best way to get the best talent is to really hammer down the places that have the best football.”

New Offers

SU’s game against Miami allowed recruits to land official offers. Quarterbacks Keegan Croucher and McNab each picked up offers on their visits.

Croucher, the sixth-ranked quarterback in the class of 2027, attended Syracuse games growing up, making the hour and 15-minute commute from eastern New York.

“Being able to get an offer from Syracuse straight in my backyard, being this close to family and possibly playing this close to family is special,” Croucher said.

McNab got to know Caporale over the last couple months. He received his offer from SU offensive assistant Devin Redd at the 50-yard line before the game.

Both Croucher and McNab commended the upward trajectory of Syracuse’s program.

“The culture and just the environment over there is different,” Croucher said. “And ending the year on this note, and this big of a win, it’s gonna help the recruitment process for all the recruits and the transfer portal. I think Syracuse is back.”

Published on December 4, 2024 at 9:56 pm

Contact Timmy at: tswilcox@syr.edu | @TimmyWilcox32