Syracuse, N.Y. — Miami Northwestern (Florida) wide receiver Calvin Russell has committed to Syracuse, he said Saturday night, giving coach Fran Brown a stunning recruiting win the program hasn’t experienced in a generation.
Russell made his decision at his birthday party in front of a large crowd of friends and family, including Syracuse freshman receiver Darius Johnson, Russell’s former high school teammate.
Russell announced his decision nearly an hour after he was scheduled to reveal his choice, cranking the drama and making it difficult to know what was happening behind the scenes.
Rated a five-star recruit by some scouting services, Russell had Syracuse in his final four with Michigan, Florida State and Oregon.
“I’m not going to lie, I made [my decision] a couple of days ago,” Russell told recruiting site On3 at the party.
“Michigan came close, but Coach Fran, the individual he is, how he was raised, I feel it. How he carries himself, the men I was raised around are similar to him, that’s why I want to be there.”
Russell is represented by NETWORK, the same marketing agency that reps Brown.
Listed at 6-foot-5, 195 pounds heading into his senior year, Russell is regarded as a top-five wide receiver nationally, according to 247Sports. As a junior, Russell racked up 704 yards and 13 touchdowns on 39 catches.
The lofty accolades distinguished his recruitment from the scores of prospects Syracuse has recruited for years. The Orange hasn’t signed a receiver with Russell’s pedigree since Johnnie Morant in 2000.
Michigan had the advantage of being the final team to host Russell leading up to Saturday’s decision, though Russell had made several trips to Central New York throughout his recruitment.
Michigan also has had one of the longest relationships with Russell thanks to head basketball coach Dusty May.
Russell plans to play football and basketball in college and has been recruited by May since his days at Florida Atlantic, he told On3’s Steve Wiltfong.
Syracuse basketball has also offered Russell, and he told On3 on Saturday night that he will suit up for the basketball team.
Russell’s mother, Chanivia Broussard, is in the Miami athletics Hall of Fame for her four-year tenure as a Hurricanes basketball player.
Syracuse, Michigan, Florida State and Oregon outlasted Miami, Florida, LSU and North Carolina in Russell’s cut from eight schools to four. His top 12 included Georgia, Alabama, USC and Auburn.
Following tight end Julius Miles’ commitment to Louisville hours before Russell’s commitment, the Orange went one-for-three in their pursuit of Florida recruits this week.
Syracuse will learn Monday whether or not it successfully flipped 2026 offensive lineman Xavier Payne from Florida State, or if he’ll take his talents to Colorado.
Players in next year’s freshman class can sign formal paperwork to enroll at a school in December.
“There will be nothing else going on with my recruitment,” Russell told On3.
“I’m done.”
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