Russell is ranked as the No. 5 wide receiver and No. 47 overall prospect in the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound receiver out of Northwestern High School in Miami, Florida, chose Syracuse over Florida State, Michigan and Oregon.

But the Syracuse Orange are also in the race as the clock ticks. With both Russell and now USC commit Boobie Feaster heading elsewhere, Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers have intensified their pursuit of Jase Mathews, the No. 3 rated wide receiver in America, as he winds down his process.