Calvin Russell III, the No. 1 receiver in the state of Florida, becomes the highest rate Syracuse football commit since 2000.
In a busy July 4 holiday weekend on the recruiting trail, Fran Brown and the Orange managed to make the biggest splash of the 2026 cycle.
Syracuse landed a commitment from 5-star wide receiver Calvin Russell late on July 5. Russell is ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in the USA TODAY Florida Top 100 and No. 4 player overall.
Russell, the No. 21 player in the country (247Sports) is the highest ranked recruit to commit to Syracuse in the last 25 years since 4-star RB Diamond Ferri (class of 2000).
"It’s about trusting the process and finding the right people to grow on and off the field with,” Russell said. “I’m thankful for everyone who’s been part of this journey, and I’m ready to work and give everything I got to Syracuse. This is the next step toward what I’ve been working for my entire life."
The 6-foot-5 receiver reeled in 35 passes for 645 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior on the way to a class 3A state championship at Miami Northwestern.
Russell named Syracuse over a Top 8 that included Oregon, Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Miami, and others.
He's also a successful basketball player, and reeled in legit basketball offers from the likes of Michigan, Miami, and Illinois. He averaged 15.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game for the Bulls.
Syracuse staff confirmed with USA TODAY that Russell will be a dual-sport athlete for the Orange. Calvin's mother, Chanivia Broussard, was a star player on the court in her own day and was inducted in the University of Miami's Hall of Fame.
"Watching Calvin commit to Syracuse is one of the proudest moments of my life," she said. He’s worked so hard in both sports, and now he gets to live out both dreams at a school that truly values who he is on and off the field."
Russell joins a Syracuse class already loaded with talent from the Sunshine State. The Orange already hold commitments from six Florida players, including three Top 100 players in Melbourne Central Catholic OT Javeion Cooper (No. 29 overall), Fleming Island EDGE Jarius Ridgers (No. 50 overall), and Southridge EDGE Kamron Wilson (No. 87 overall).
Winter Park ATH E'Shawn Sutton, IMG IOL Steven Pickard, and Cardinal Newman OT Brayden Charney round out the Orange's in-state commits.
Who is Calvin Russell III, dual-sport Syracuse commit?
School: Miami Northwestern
Height, Weight: 6-5, 195 pounds
Honors: 2025 Navy All-American Bowl, 2026 Under Armour All-America Game
USA TODAY Florida Network Ranking: No. 4 (No. 1 wide receiver)
247Sports Composite: 5 star, No. 2 player in Florida, No. 3 WR in the nation
Scouting report: When it comes to raw talent, there are few prospects more exciting than Russell. His length makes him a matchup nightmare, and he has the speed to take the top off of a secondary. Russell is also a certified hooper with Power-5 basketball offers, and it shows on the gridiron when he brings down lobs in the corner of the end zone.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Calvin Russell III commits: 5-star Miami Northwestern WR picks Syracuse
Category: General Sports
