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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Ten students-athletes have joined the Orange football program, head coach Dino Babers announced Thursday in conjunction with the start of Syracuse University's spring semester.
Freshmen Chance Amie, Andre Cisco, Cam Jonas, Juan Wallace and junior Lakiem Williams are enrolled at the University after signing National Letters of the Intent to play for the Orange on Dec. 20.
In addition, Syracuse has added Michigan State transfer Trishton Jackson, Chattanooga transfer Zack Lesko and freshmen Aaron Bolinsky, Kevin Johnson Jr. and Cory Smigel.
A 6-1, 179-pound wide receiver, Jackson must sit out of the 2018 season due to NCAA transfer regulations. He has two years of eligibility remaining. Jackson caught 17 passes for 232 yards and one touchdowns in two seasons for the Spartans, including 12 catches for 143 yards as a sophomore in 2017. He started four games last fall and averaged 11.9 yards per reception.
A graduate of Michigan's West Bloomfield High School, Jackson was one of the top prospects in the Class of 2016. He was ranked No. 157 overall and No. 25 among wide receivers by At their request, this network is being blocked from this site., and No. 222 overall and No. 43 at his position by 247Sports.com.
Like Jackson, Lesko will not compete in 2018 due to NCAA transfer rules and has two seasons of eligibility left. A 6-0, 225-pound linebacker, Lesko rejoins the Orange after spending last fall at Chattanooga. Lesko was a member of the Syracuse roster as a true freshman in 2016 and redshirted. He did not play in any games for the Mocs last season.
Bolinsky, a 5-11, 225-pound long snapper, spent his senior season at Pennsylvania's North Schuylkill High School where he also played center. He was named to the 2017 Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association (SCFCA) "Dream Team" and selected as the SCFCA Offensive Lineman of the Year after leading the Spartans to an appearance in the District 11 Class 3A playoffs. As a junior, Bolinsky was the starting center for Blue Mountain High School (Pa.) and helped the Eagles capture the Eastern Conference Class AAAA championship.
Johnson Jr. is the son of former Syracuse All-American and 1998 BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year Kevin Johnson Sr. The younger Johnson, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds, began his prep career at The Hun School in New Jersey before transferring to Florida's IMG Academy for his senior season. A special teams player for the Ascenders, Johnson Jr. helped IMG Academy to an 8-0 record and the No. 2 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 poll.
Smigel, a 5-8, 150-pound placekicker and punter, graduated from Ohio's North Royalton High School in 2016. As a senior, he was named the Bears' special teams MVP. Smigel averaged 37.1 yards per punt in his final scholastic campaign, including a season-long of 61 yards, and connected on 17-of-18 PATs.
In addition to beginning classes at Syracuse this week, all 10 student-athletes have started offseason football activities and will participate in spring practice, which opens in March.
