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Syracuse’s 2017 recruiting class took a couple of hits last week, as the Orange saw two of its top recruits – wide receiver Josh Palmer and running back B.J. Daniels – decommit in a span of two days (albeit, it was reportedly the SU coaching staff who decided to part ways with Daniels).
The disappointing change of plans, however, opens the door for more recruits to potentially join Syracuse’s 2017 class. Twenty-two players have either committed or already signed, leaving seven spots still available for the upcoming season.
With less than two weeks until National Signing Day on Wednesday Feb. 1, here are some of the top recruits Syracuse coach Dino Babers and his staff will continue to target in hopes of convincing them to sign with the Orange.
WR Eddie Lewis
In a way, Syracuse has been recruiting Lewis since he was in middle school, as the wide receiver’s seventh grade quarterback was none other than SU commit Tommy DeVito. The two have remained close throughout the years, and DeVito has been recruiting Lewis to join him at Syracuse. The 5’11.5”, 171-pound prospect is rated three stars and the No. 94 wide receiver in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports. Lewis’ top five schools include Syracuse, Rutgers, Indiana, North Carolina and Boston College.
OL Alex Palczewski
Palczewski is a three-star prospect from Illinois. Despite Syracuse joining Palczewski’s recruiting late, the 6’6”, 260-pound offensive lineman remains interested in the Orange, recently taking an official visit to SU on Jan. 15-17. In addition to Syracuse, Palczewski holds offers from Illinois and Vanderbilt. He is rated the No. 115 offensive tackle in the Class of 2017, by 247Sports.
*** UPDATE: Palczewski committed to Illinois on Monday Jan. 23. ***
DT Chris Elmore
Elmore, a 6’1”, 260-pound defensive tackle from Chicago, was previously committed to Western Michigan, but reopened his recruitment after former WMU coach P.J. Fleck left for Minnesota. Elmore is rated three stars and the No. 79 defensive tackle in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports. He is scheduled to take an official visit to Syracuse this weekend. In addition to both Syracuse and Western Michigian, Elmore holds offers from Rutgers, Indiana, Florida Atlantic and Buffalo, among others.
*** UPDATE: Elmore committed to Syracuse during his official visit Jan. 20-22. ***
WR Josh Palmer
Palmer may have decomitted, but that doesn’t mean Syracuse is out of the running for the 6’2”, 200-pound receiver. Despite reneging on his verbal commitment, Palmer is still expected to take an official visit to Syracuse for the weekend of Jan. 27. He recently took an official visit to Tennessee and is scheduled to visit UCLA this weekend as well. Palmer is rated three stars and the No. 118 wide receiver in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports.
*** UPDATE: Palmer committed to Tennessee and ended his recruitment on Jan. 24 ***
TE Ben Moos
Moos wasn’t originally on this list when the story was first published on Jan. 20, as the Pullman (Wa.) prospect was committed to Utah at the time. However, Moos announced on Saturday he was decomitting from Utah and re-opening his recruitment. Moos previously scheduled to take an official visit to Syracuse on the weekend of Jan. 27, according to Scout. He is rated three stars and the No. 62 tight end in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports. In addition to Utah and Syracuse, Moos holds offers from Louisville, Washington State and Idaho, among others.
DT John Mitchell
Another Illinois defensive tackle prospect, Mitchell is rated three stars by both Scout and Rivals but is unranked by ESPN and 247Sports. The 6’3”, 270-pound prospect is rated the No. 70 defensive tackle by Scout. He holds offers from Syracuse, Illinois, Ball State and Central Michigan, among others.
LB Corvin Moment
“Some people wait a lifetime, for a MOMENT like this...” Moment may not be a once in a lifetime football recruit – sorry, Kelly Clarkson – but the 6’1”, 220-pound linebacker is a talented player who could help shore up Syracuse’s less than stellar defense nonetheless. Moment is rated three stars and the No. 107 outside linebacker in the Class of 2017 by 247 reports. The Vero Beach (Fl.) prospect holds offers from Syracuse, Western Michigan, Louisville and Florida Atlantic, among others.
DB Brian Edwards
Edwards is a 6’3”, 195-pound defensive back from Hollywood, Florida who has the size and versatility to play both safety and cornerback. The Miramar prospect is rated three stars and the No. 57 cornerback in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports. Edwards told Syracuse.com in December his top schools are Syracuse, Miami, Louisville and Florida. Edwards was originally scheduled to take an official visit to SU this weekend, but is now reportedly taking an official visit to Miami instead.
DT Wiley Lester (JUCO)
Lester is a 6’5” 285-pound defensive tackle who played for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. The JUCO prospect is rated three stars and the No. 13 defensive tackle in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports. In addition to Syracuse, Lester holds offers from Baylor, Houston, Colorado State and West Virginia, among others. Syracuse currently only has one defensive lineman commit in three-star defensive tackle Curtis Harper.
DT Jamari Chisholm (JUCO)
If Syracuse misses out on Lester, they could very well target his former teammate Jamari Chisholm. Another Northeastern Oklahoma A&M prospect, Chisholm is a 6’5” 280-pound defensive tackle who played for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M alongside Lester. The JUCO prospect is rated three stars and the No. 21 defensive tackle in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports. Chisholm holds offers from just Syracuse and Georgia State. He recently took an official visit to Texas on Jan. 13 but has not been offered by the Longhorns.
DT Shaquille Grosvenor (JUCO)
Yet another JUCO defensive tackle prospect, Grosvenor is unrated by the major recruiting services. However, there appears to be mutual interest between the 6’2”, 285-pound defensive tackle and the Orange coaching staff, as Grosvenor is scheduled to take an official visit to Syracuse this weekend. He currently does not hold any scholarship offers.