Class of 2026 WR Calvin Russell (FL) COMMITTED/SIGNED TO SYRACUSE (7/5/25)

[Cusefan69]

Yeah recruiting and portal is all puts and takes. Even without Russell we are bringing in a really strong WR group. Would love to have Russell join that group but if that doesn't happen that's fine because in the end we are all just water.

 

[HyattsCuse]

I think it was something about Ross taking White's chipotle gift card and then apologizing by giving him a Qdoba one.

Some things are simply unforgivable

I actually LOL’d at this. True story. I have been in a Qdoba once. Figured I’d check it out one day years ago. Looked at the menu, didn’t see anything that appealed to me, left without ordering, and went to a nearby Chipotle instead

 

[CbusCuse]

I'm not being negative. I'm laying out how I see it. Fran really shouldn’t get too much credit for the 10–3 season in 2024 because the success was far more about circumstances than his coaching impact. He inherited a roster with proven playmakers Gadsden, Allen, Pena, Gill, Wax, Clark, Barron, Diggs, Chestnut. Guys who were already producing before he arrived. The biggest difference maker was McCord transferring in. Not a long-term recruiting win, but Fran does get credit for that. On top of that, the schedule was soft, ranked outside the top 50 nationally. We barely survived games against UNLV, VT and UConn. The defense, which is supposed to be Fran’s specialty, was mediocre at best giving up almost 30 points per game and ranking in the 90s nationally. If Fran truly deserved the credit, the program would have sustained momentum. Instead, 2024 looks like lightning in a bottle. Inherited stars, a portal QB and a soft schedule, not the mark of a coach who transformed Syracuse football.

Don't want to let facts get in the way, but Pena and Gill were not proven playmakers going into 2024.
Pena didn't play in 2023 and had less than 300 yards and 1TD up to that point. Gill had 60 yds and 1 TD prior to 2024.

Diggs was not a proven playmaker at SU, he came in with Fran.
Chestnut came back to SU with Fran and wasn't on the SU roster in 2023.

 

[TommyA13]

LSU and Florida both making a late push here

A bag vs a relationship, what will Calvin choose? Tune in to the next episode “The Decision” on Friday to find out!

 

[swish7]

We got Toosii. We good at WR.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

We got Toosii. We good at WR.

we got our guy!

 

[Van1144]

Well, after what happened to SU Football after the Clemson High we had, and how we totally tanked both on the field and at coaching, then fired all the junior coaches, and Fran not really taking ownership IMO on much of this, how can anyone expect us to really hold this class together. Calvin who was soundly CUSE is now not signing. I am saying this now, but it will take a slight miracle to pull this class together, try to hang on to the talent we do have from jumping into the portal, and with the merry go round at coaching I'm not to optimistic! Does Fran bail this all out? Thoughts? My heart says he does, but my thoughts are saying is this the beginning of the end.

 

[Franz69]

Please put the trolls on ignore so we don't have to scroll through endless replies to their nonsense.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Well, after what happened to SU Football after the Clemson High we had, and how we totally tanked both on the field and at coaching, then fired all the junior coaches, and Fran not really taking ownership IMO on much of this, how can anyone expect us to really hold this class together. Calvin who was soundly CUSE is now not signing. I am saying this now, but it will take a slight miracle to pull this class together, try to hang on to the talent we do have from jumping into the portal, and with the merry go round at coaching I'm not to optimistic! Does Fran bail this all out? Thoughts? My heart says he does, but my thoughts are saying is this the beginning of the end.

He just did pull the class together no? Russell is a 5 star type, if you don't think with all these new SEC coaches being hired, some who had no chance a few weeks ago because of where they were currently working aren't going to make a late run then that would be crazy. They have more access to money, SEC prestige, etc as opposed to being non P4 HC types

I hate the USF coach who is now the Auburn coach, Lane is Lane but Sumrall at Florida is somebody I think is a fantastic coach and his kids at Tulane love him

 

[oldpinepoint]

Well, after what happened to SU Football after the Clemson High we had, and how we totally tanked both on the field and at coaching, then fired all the junior coaches, and Fran not really taking ownership IMO on much of this, how can anyone expect us to really hold this class together. Calvin who was soundly CUSE is now not signing. I am saying this now, but it will take a slight miracle to pull this class together, try to hang on to the talent we do have from jumping into the portal, and with the merry go round at coaching I'm not to optimistic! Does Fran bail this all out? Thoughts? My heart says he does, but my thoughts are saying is this the beginning of the end.

Deep breaths, it will all be ok

 

[Archbold44]

Well, after what happened to SU Football after the Clemson High we had, and how we totally tanked both on the field and at coaching, then fired all the junior coaches, and Fran not really taking ownership IMO on much of this, how can anyone expect us to really hold this class together. Calvin who was soundly CUSE is now not signing. I am saying this now, but it will take a slight miracle to pull this class together, try to hang on to the talent we do have from jumping into the portal, and with the merry go round at coaching I'm not to optimistic! Does Fran bail this all out? Thoughts? My heart says he does, but my thoughts are saying is this the beginning of the end.

The ship is definitely taking on water. I think it more comes down to portal though. Most of what signed today will not help us next year. Fran needs to retain as much useful talent as he can and bring in as much useful talent as he can. He cannot wait on this class to develop...

 

[javadoc]

Our 10-3 record could easily have been 11-2 or even 12-1 if not for the Stanford collapse, the Pitt no‑show and the BC meltdown.

LOL

 

[TommyA13]

I’ve just been told by the voices in my head that Calvin will be signing with us on Friday. We can all relax now.

 

[Hawknate144]

In 2022 Pena was in a regular rotation at WR and returned all the kicks.
1n 2023 Gill was in a regular rotation at WR and also returned kicks.

Diggs proved himself at A&M. Yes I was mistaken, he was a Fran recruit.

Chestnut was a Babers recruit and would've come back regardless who the new coach was.

Any comment on Gadsden, Allen, Wax and Barron...

yeah, a regular rotation, behind Umari Hatcher and Damian Alford, our actual #1 receiver last season was a guy with 100 career receiving yards at UGA who came with Fran.

Several of those guys you listed also said they would have transferred out if not for Fran

 

[IthacaBarrel]

In 2022 Pena was in a regular rotation at WR and returned all the kicks.
1n 2023 Gill was in a regular rotation at WR and also returned kicks.

Diggs proved himself at A&M. Yes I was mistaken, he was a Fran recruit.

Chestnut was a Babers recruit and would've come back regardless who the new coach was.

Any comment on Gadsden, Allen, Wax and Barron...

Pena was hurt all the time in 22 and 23

 

[bnoro]

I think it was something about Ross taking White's chipotle gift card and then apologizing by giving him a Qdoba one.

Some things are simply unforgivable

Qdoba >>>>> Chipotle. Chipotle has gone downhill quickly

 

[GoSU96]

This is so Syracuse. Can't have anything nice. Lol

I guess we’d be better off not being involved with kids like this.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I guess we’d be better off not being involved with kids like this.

What makes you say that?

 

[Blanko97]

Qdoba >>>>> Chipotle. Chipotle has gone downhill quickly

BLASPHOMY

Be gone heathen

 

[OrangeXtreme]

LSU and Florida both making a late push here

I can live with losing a kid to Florida or LSU over $$$.

As long as he doesn't flip to Rutgers or UConn.

 

[anomander]

LSU and Florida both making a late push here

late push = dropping bags!! Such a sorry state CFB has become. I think it’s pretty obvious if it was about relationship he would be here, but how does an 18yr old weigh relationship with a nice chunk of change vs life changing money with no guarantee you make it to the league . I’m sure he thinks he will make it, they all do, but this is definitely a hard decision. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.

 

[HyattsCuse]

Qdoba >>>>> Chipotle. Chipotle has gone downhill quickly

I chalk this up to expansion. I have 12 Chipotle’s within 10 miles of me compared to 3 Qdoba’s. Most of those 15 combined locations have popped up within the last few years. Some of the Chipotles do suck, but I have two locations that are awesome. The employees always have the line stocked with fresh food and give big portions in my burrito bowls.

Chipotle burrito bowls are my fast food addiction.

 

[azbobbop]

Fran needs to channel his inner Mike Holmgren.

When the Packers were recruiting Reggie White, he said he needed to talk with God. Holmgren left a message on Reggie’s answering machine — ‘Reggie, this is God, sign with Green Bay.’

Reggie loved the humor and eventually signed with the Packers.

 

[azbobbop]

I actually LOL’d at this. True story. I have been in a Qdoba once. Figured I’d check it out one day years ago. Looked at the menu, didn’t see anything that appealed to me, left without ordering, and went to a nearby Chipotle instead

Qdoba has better salsa

 

[CbusCuse]

In 2022 Pena was in a regular rotation at WR and returned all the kicks.
1n 2023 Gill was in a regular rotation at WR and also returned kicks.

Diggs proved himself at A&M. Yes I was mistaken, he was a Fran recruit.

Chestnut was a Babers recruit and would've come back regardless who the new coach was.

Any comment on Gadsden, Allen, Wax and Barron...

Yes we had some proven talent going into 2024. God I hope so. Of course we did. We were not starting with a 100% new roster. I'm just pointing out your false statements of we already had proven playmakers before, in those players that I mentioned. They were not some uberly productive proven playmakers up to that point that should discredit what Fran did in 2024. Like you were trying to do to make a point.

Yes 2024 was a little bit of lightning in a bottle but don't believe that Fran had nothing to do with that. That lightning doesn't strike without Fran. 2025 ended up being a dud of a season. I certainly don't agree with everything Fran has done and he still has things to work on as a head coach, but I still believe lightning is going to strike more often with Fran than most other coaches for SU.

I for one am very happy that he is holding coaches accountable. Hopefully he can fill those roles with some more competent coaches. I'd like to see less recruiting prowess traits and more proven X's and O's types of guys. Fran is the main event for recruting purposes. He can bring in the talent, we need coaches who can develop and win on the field.