Syracuse Football Recruiting: Orange Hosting 12 Visitors This Weekend

With National Signing Day fast approaching Syracuse will be using this weekend and next to woo recruits to committing to the Orange. Let's take a look at who will be visiting the Syracuse Orange this weekend.

Weekend Visitors:

Tim Walton, MLB, Cass Technical, Detroit: Walton is rated three stars by Scout and is currently committed to Illinois. When he committed to Illinois, it was his only power 5 offer. At 6'2", 220 lbs., Walton has the size the staff is looking for at middle linebacker.

Rashad Smith, OLB, Homestead High School, Homestead, Fla.: Smith is a 6'1", 190 lbs. prospect who is currently committed to Florida Atlantic University. The new staff believe he can excel at linebacker in the Tampa 2 zone where his athleticism and hands will enable him to make plays in zone coverage. He is rated two stars by Scout.

Jo-el Shaw, RB, Highland High School, Pittsburgh: Shaw is a bruising big back at 6'1" 220 lbs. He has Syracuse in his top three along with Pittsburgh and Western Michigan. Syracuse RB Coach Mike Hart first started recruiting Shaw while Hart was a coach at Western Michigan. Shaw is rated three stars by Scout. Shaw will visit Pittsburgh next weekend. Syracuse landing Shaw could make amends for Pittsburgh landing Qadree Ellison out from Syracuse's nose.

Devin Butler, WR, Frederick Douglass High School, Upper Marlboro, Md.: Butler is listed at 6'3", 180 lbs. and is rated three stars by Scout. Butler played safety and quarterback in high school, but Syracuse is recruiting him as a wide receiver. He also has interest from Maryland and Temple. He'd like to run track in college along with playing football.

Jaquwan Nelson, DE, Fort Lauderdale High School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Nelson may be the premiere visitor for this weekend. Nelson is committed to Miami. He measures in at 6'4", 230 lbs. Despite the recent commitment of Kendall Coleman, Syracuse still has a dire need at defensive end.

Joshua Black, DE, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, Ill.: Black is another priority target at defensive end. Black is 6'3", 240 lbs. He only recently started playing defensive end so he is a bit raw. He is currently committed to Illinois and is rated three stars by Scout.

Evan Foster, S, West Bloomfield High School, West Bloomfield, Mich.: Foster is a Bowling Green de-commit who has a strong relationship with the staff. He is also considering Purdue. He measures in at 6'2", 195lbs., ideal size for a safety in the Tampa 2 defense. He rated three stars by Scout.

Michael Clark, OT, Downington East High School, Exton, Penn.: Clark recently de-committed from Maryland after not hearing from the new staff. At 6'7", 280 lbs. he has the size and athleticism the new staff is looking for in offensive lineman. Prior to committing to Maryland, Clark also had offers from Rutgers, South Carolina, Wake Forest and West Virginia. He is rated three stars by Scout.

Mckinley Williams, DT,  Dillard High School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: At 6'5", 255 lbs. Williams is undersized for a defensive tackle, but he has the frame to add weight and strength. He attends the same high school as early enrollee Kenneth Ruff. He is rated two stars by Rivals and will be visiting Pittsburgh next weekend.

Syracuse will also have three recruits who are verbally committed on campus: OL Sam Heckel, OL Airon Servais, and DE Kendall Coleman. The Orange will host twelve visitors on campus this weekend with the hopes of landing some verbal commitments. Syracuse.com's Stephen Bailey's educated guess is that three or four could commit while on campus this weekend.

We'll wait and see as Dino Babers and his staff continue filling out the class leading up to Signing Day.