​Buffalo Canisius four-star running back Elijah Kimble is staying close to home by committing to Syracuse on Friday evening. He chose the Orange over North Carolina, Indiana, and a host of other Power Five offers. Ranked as the No. 304 overall prospect and No. 23 running back in the 2027 cycle by the Rivals Industry Ranking, Kimble is also the top recruit in New York. At 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, he becomes the highest-ranked prospect in Franny Brown’s pursuit of a strong class for Syracuse, having visited the ACC program multiple times in recent months before locking in prior to his senior season.
Kimble has been one of the Empire State’s top players for years, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons, according to MaxPreps. In 2023, he tallied 1,726 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, bringing his career totals to over 5,300 rushing yards and 75 total touchdowns. He is set to lead Canisius again as a senior, with the Crusaders starting the year ranked No. 8 in New York by the Rivals Composite Rankings.
Syracuse’s commitment tally continues to grow, with Kimble’s pledge giving the Orange a strong in-state addition as part of a class that now sits 43rd nationally in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The Orange have 24 commits, and Kimble is joined by four-star safety Jalen Welch from Georgia as the program’s second blue-chip pledge. Welch, who hails from Peach State, committed on June 16, saying, “What ultimately led me to choose Syracuse is their prestige coaching ability for DBs and the development on getting guys to the next level. Coach Dre Kates did an amazing job recruiting me and building a great relationship to make me feel at home, so it was a no-brainer when picking Syracuse as my final destination.”
Other notable additions to Syracuse’s class include Chanin Harris, a three-star wide receiver from Byrnes, South Carolina; Jason Lewis, a three-star defensive lineman from Osceola, Florida; Travis Miles, a three-star safety from Hillside, New Jersey; Botond Varga, a three-star offensive tackle from Tabor Academy, Massachusetts; and Marcus Small, a three-star offensive tackle from First Coast, Jacksonville, Florida. This expansion strengthens Syracuse’s 2027 recruiting class as it builds a foundation with top New York talent and several regional contributors.