Syracuse Recruiting Roundup: Ajani Cornelius, Cruce Brookins

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Syracuse coach Dino Babers addresses the Carrier Dome crowd to celebrate SU's Camping World Bowl victory. Mandatory Photo Credit: Kicia Sears, The Juice Online.

With less than three weeks to go until the early signing period, Syracuse is moving quickly to bolster its 2023 class.

The Orange offered several prospects this week, and we start with Ajani Cornelius, an offensive lineman from Rhode Island who entered his name into the transfer portal at the start of December. The Orange offered, along with 22 other FBS schools including Missouri, Boston College, Maryland, Penn State, Oregon, Florida, Auburn and Nebraska. “My life has been extremely busy over the last couple of days,” Cornelius told 247Sports’ Chris Hummer. “I couldn’t have imagined this would be the thing.”

Syracuse is also pursuing Yale transfer Nick Gargiulo. Originally in the class of 2018, the offensive lineman committed to Yale over offers from Cornell and Buffalo, among others. He was selected to the First-Team All Ivy League team in 2022. Boston College, Oklahoma State and Rutgers are among the FBS schools to have offered, according to Rivals’ Richard Schnyderite.

Syracuse is also looking to bolster its class with several JUCO transfers. SU offered 2023 lineman Daniel Tupuola from Mt. San Antonio (CA) College after a season in which he was named First-Team All Conference in the SCFA National Division. Northern Colorado, Western Illinois and Texas State are among the other schools to have offered.

Another JUCO player Syracuse offered is offensive lineman Larry Johnson III. The Hutchinson CC prospect holds offers from Tennessee, FAU, Maryland, Charlotte, and Georgia Southern, among others.

As for high school prospects, the Orange is moving to flip 2023 defensive back Cruce Brookins. The Steel Valley High (PA) prospect committed to Kent State in August, but the Orange offered him on Dec. 1. Cincinnati and Pitt are two other schools to have offered following his commitment.

» Related: 2024 Syracuse commit wants to put the Orange ‘on the map’

2023 Cincinnati commit Nick Oliveira tweeted last weekend that he was reoffered by Syracuse. Oliveira had originally committed to Luke Fickell and the Bearcats in June, but with Fickell taking the job at Wisconsin, Oliveira may be reexamining his options. The Orange originally offered back in May, and the Clearview Regional School (NJ) prospect’s offer list also includes Rutgers, Boston College, Pitt, Vanderbilt and Duke, among others.

Moving to the class of 2024, Syracuse offered Cathedral Prep (PA) defensive lineman Jiavani Cooley. Boston College, UMass, Maryland and Pitt are among the other schools to have offered so far.

Finally, the Orange also offered 2025 running back Carter Jackson from Granite Bay (CA) High. It is his first ACC offer, though he already holds offers from high-majors California and Arizona, along with San Jose State.

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About Rutger Sears 129 Articles
Rutger is a freelance writer and as a Syracuse native, has an affinity for all Syracuse University Athletics. From Donovan McNabb to Mike Powell, Rutger has seen greatness in many forms don an Orange uniform over the last 30 years. He covers all Syracuse athletics with a particular emphasis on football and recruiting.