Under first-year head coach Scott Shafer, Syracuse’s 2014 recruiting class got off to a bit of a slow start. Things have really picked up recently, though, and now the Orange have some momentum on the recruiting trail.
Syracuse football recruiting 2013: Orange moving up in national rankings
A handful of September and October commitments have Syracuse eyeing a top-50 class.
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Syracuse’s current class of 12 players is ranked 57th overall on 24/7Sports’ composite team rankings. That’s up a bit since the summer months, rising 12 spots the past couple weeks. As for the rest of the ACC, schools like Miami, Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina are all in the top-20, while Duke (ranked 44th) and Maryland (51st) are within striking distance for the Orange.
A couple of prospects have committed in the last month or so. The most recent pledge came on Oct. 6 from three-star guard Aaron Roberts out of Chicago. At 6'6 and 295 pounds, Roberts is regarded as a top-50 prospect in the state of Illinois and has the frame to make a real impact along the offensive line for years to come.
In addition to Roberts, wide receiver Jamal Custis and all-purpose back Ervin Phillips are three-star offensive prospects who should help coach Shafer’s offense move the ball. Custis is regarded as one of the top overall prospects from the state of Connecticut, while Phillips is a borderline top-100 wide receiver nationally.
The crown jewel of the class is four-star athlete K.J. Williams. Williams is regarded as a top-200 prospect by 24/7Sports and could play either wide receiver or safety in college. At 6’2 and 200 pounds, he has the size and athleticism to play either position. Williams is out of Bethlehem, Penn. and was recruited pretty hard by schools like Arizona, Michigan and Missouri.
A.J. Long, a three-star dual threat quarterback out of Tennessee, was one of the first players to commit to Syracuse back in March. Long is regarded as a top-25 quarterback for the 2014 class, and while his throwing mechanics need some work, his mobility will give him a shot to stick at the position. Naesean Howard, a three-star running back out of New York, was another early commit and is really shifty out of the backfield.
