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

[SUfanNC]

This is why I said it would be best to lock the thread. No need to get false hope. Richmond is setting himself up to be hanged.

The lock the thread thing is ridiculous every time it’s said.

 

[CbusCuse]

The lock the thread thing is ridiculous every time it’s said.

Locking the thread is a tool for the mods that can be helpful in appropriate situations. This isn't one of them.

 

[cuse702]

Everyone is reading too much into it. There's no guarantee where he's going, we know he likes Syracuse and Fran a lot. He's been up here several times making a very long trip north even when he's had other schools much closer he could attend particularly for the spring game. Him and Fran have been locked in for a couple years now and Fran has the trust of his mother as well. None of that means he's definitely picking us next week, but its something you need to keep in mind before completely ruling us out as well. Even if he didn't take an official visit here as of yet. We have as good of a shot as Michigan, Oregon, LSU or Miami (he's not going there). Just have to wait and see.

 

[JarHeadJim]

I’m not going to say we’re landing him, but with sites like Rivals not even listing Syracuse as offered when we all know he had high interest in Syracuse (you don’t visit a school 4 times if you don’t) makes me take this speculation by the sites with a grain of salt. First it was Miami, then LSU, now Michigan, and if he visits OSU in day or 2 it will be OSU. And if he slips in an Alabama visit after that then it will be Alabama. These clowns have no idea where he is going and are just trying to generate clicks just like with Kamron Wilson. It’s annoying and it’s getting old quite frankly.

Rivals has hated Syracuse since the Mike Farrell days.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Sudano]

Understand your point.

On the other hand, we can't definitively say whether he mentioned SU or not. Russell himself did not edit the article, or write it up. So I wouldn't make an attribution about what the kid is thinking based upon an article.

Anything is possible, but not probable. No reason for writer of article to mention 5 other schools and leave us out. We were 10-3 last year and ranked 20th, a few spots below Alabama. Nothing to hide us from.

 

[SUfanNC]

Locking the thread is a tool for the mods that can be helpful in appropriate situations. This isn't one of them.

I’m not worried about a mod locking it. It’s when someone asks for it to be locked. It happens far too often in my opinion

 

[Sudano]

richmondcuse03 is not setting himself up for anything. He passed along information that he's hearing. That information could absolutely be correct.

If it's not, and you can't understand that information can change, that's on you. Not him. And if people "hang" him they shouldn't expect any other people with information to pass that along in the future.

The 'ol switcheroo. I can claim something confidently, and if it doesn't happen ...'things changed', and we're the idiots for not realizing that it can happen. That makes sense...

 

[sufan59]

Don’t have a subscription. Wiltfong really trying to phish for info here. He wants to issue a prediction, but isn’t getting anything definitive on one or two schools yet.

 

[RF2044]

Anything is possible, but not probable. No reason for writer of article to mention 5 other schools and leave us out. We were 10-3 last year and ranked 20th, a few spots below Alabama. Nothing to hide us from.

There is a reason -- because doing that caters to Rivals / On3's primary customer base, and filters out what they consider to be white noise.

 

[Sudano]

There is a reason -- because doing that caters to Rivals / On3's primary customer base, and filters out what they consider to be white noise.

Really, We are not white noise, just another poor us take. It doesn't impact the article readership one iota from the fans from the other schools, and increases slightly with SU fans.

 

[cuseallday]

Don’t have a subscription. Wiltfong really trying to phish for info here. He wants to issue a prediction, but isn’t getting anything definitive on one or two schools yet.

I read the piece. Not gonna share details because it's VIP, but I'll say this. Syracuse continues to push for Calvin. I have no clue where he's gonna go. He's got LSU buzz on On3, and he's got a prediction in the direction of Michigan via Rivals. Rivals isn't biased against SU; national analyst John Garcia said he thought the Orange would land either Messiah or Calvin. Wiltfong isn't biased. He's noted many, many times that Calvin is high on Syracuse. Do I think that Syracuse not getting an official before July 5 is a bad sign? Perhaps. But as many of you have said, even if he verbals elsewhere, Syracuse will continue to pursue him, and reports have stated he will likely visit SU again this fall. Will it sting if 'Cuse misses on Calvin? Of course, but it's just cool that SU is even in the mix for guys like Calvin

 

[RF2044]

Really, We are not white noise, just another poor us take. It doesn't impact the article readership one iota from the fans from the other schools, and increases slightly with SU fans.

No, it isn't a "poor us" take. The recruiting services have big subscriber presences from several of the programs on his list, but a small subscriber pool from Syracuse -- that's a fact, not a take.

The article focused on those other programs. There are two potential reasons -- one is that Russell really didn't mention us, which runs counter to what a few posters are suggesting in terms of our prospects. Time will tell -- we'll find out on 7/5.

Another is that the article focused on bigger name programs that are reportedly on his list, because that's where their $$$ comes from.

Doesn't sound like anyone in the sports media has a strong sense of which direction this kid is leaning, which is why the predictions are all over the place and seem to have changed so much.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

This is why I said it would be best to lock the thread. No need to get false hope. Richmond is setting himself up to be hanged.

I think threatening violence against a poster in inappropriate.

 

[SU in Hershey]

Anything is possible, but not probable. No reason for writer of article to mention 5 other schools and leave us out. We were 10-3 last year and ranked 20th, a few spots below Alabama. Nothing to hide us from.

Strange use of language; speaking of possibilities/probabilities and then making a declaration in absolutes. There certainly may be reasons the writer had to leave us out. Good or bad, it doesn't matter. Just because you can't think of reasons doesn't mean they don't (or can't) exist.

 

[Sudano]

No, it isn't a "poor us" take. The recruiting services have big subscriber presences from several of the programs on his list, but a small subscriber pool from Syracuse -- that's a fact, not a take.

The article focused on those other programs. There are two potential reasons -- one is that Russell really didn't mention us, which runs counter to what a few posters are suggesting in terms of our prospects. Time will tell -- we'll find out on 7/5.

Another is that the article focused on bigger name programs that are reportedly on his list, because that's where their $$$ comes from.

Doesn't sound like anyone in the sports media has a strong sense of which direction this kid is leaning, which is why the predictions are all over the place and seem to have changed so much.

It may be poor journalism but just because others have large fan bases doesn't mean you leave out one that still has a fan base. Your last point sums all this up perfectly, regardless of not knowing the unknowable up to this point.

 

[RF2044]

It may be poor journalism but just because others have large fan bases doesn't mean you leave out one that still has a fan base. Your last point sums all this up perfectly, regardless of not knowing the unknowable up to this point.

It's happened before with Rivals, which is why a few people have raised it as a possibility.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

It's happened before with Rivals, which is why a few people have raised it as a possibility.

stranger things have definitely happened and yeah I don't feel great about him verballing to Syracuse but I am not ruling it out either. With our head coach I don't think that would be wise. And again, people want to recruit versus the big boys.. well this is what it looks and feels like. It's not a game for men in short pants

 

[djorange1989]

Rivals has hated Syracuse since the Mike Farrell days.

Calling Mike Farrell an arrogant douchebag is an insult to arrogant douchebags everywhere. When he has his weekly segment on Siurius XM with Childers and Coach Rick, I flip the station quickly

 

[bnoro]

The 'ol switcheroo. I can claim something confidently, and if it doesn't happen ...'things changed', and we're the idiots for not realizing that it can happen. That makes sense...

Another good way to chase anyone giving information off this board.

17 year olds change their mind all the time.

 

[Orijinal]

I read the piece. Not gonna share details because it's VIP, but I'll say this. Syracuse continues to push for Calvin. I have no clue where he's gonna go. He's got LSU buzz on On3, and he's got a prediction in the direction of Michigan via Rivals. Rivals isn't biased against SU; national analyst John Garcia said he thought the Orange would land either Messiah or Calvin. Wiltfong isn't biased. He's noted many, many times that Calvin is high on Syracuse. Do I think that Syracuse not getting an official before July 5 is a bad sign? Perhaps. But as many of you have said, even if he verbals elsewhere, Syracuse will continue to pursue him, and reports have stated he will likely visit SU again this fall. Will it sting if 'Cuse misses on Calvin? Of course, but it's just cool that SU is even in the mix for guys like Calvin

Thank you for this beautifully reasonable post. A breath of fresh air. Everyone should read this 3x before they post anything else on this thread

 

[cardiac]

Another good way to chase anyone giving information off this board.

17 year olds change their mind all the time.

He started getting very confident right after we lost Hampton...

 

[cuseallday]

Thank you for this beautifully reasonable post. A breath of fresh air. Everyone should read this 3x before they post anything else on this thread

Appreciate you, my friend. Interestingly enough, I'm writing an article right now about Calvin signing that Adidas deal, thanks to the board for the tip. I went on Calvin's Instagram, and I did see visit photos of late from seven of eight finalists, including UNC, and I didn't think he was taking an OV there. 'Cuse is the only one not there. On the face of it, it seems bad, but Calvin has kept things so close to the vest, maybe he shocks everyone and picks SU

 

[javadoc]

Calling Mike Farrell an arrogant douchebag is an insult to arrogant douchebags everywhere. When he has his weekly segment on Siurius XM with Childers and Coach Rick, I flip the station quickly

Thank you for standing up for me!

 

[orangefog]

Appreciate you, my friend. Interestingly enough, I'm writing an article right now about Calvin signing that Adidas deal, thanks to the board for the tip. I went on Calvin's Instagram, and I did see visit photos of late from seven of eight finalists, including UNC, and I didn't think he was taking an OV there. 'Cuse is the only one not there. On the face of it, it seems bad, but Calvin has kept things so close to the vest, maybe he shocks everyone and picks SU

All the schools that are in consideration are Nike schools, I believe. With one exception, Miami. Miami is an Adidas school.